Borrowing plan’s defeat causes cuts to SLED, K-12

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A law enforcement training center, K-12 school construction and rural water and sewer infrastructure are among projects eliminated or drastically reduced by the House’s refusal to borrow money as part of its budget package.

However, a few items were added to the rewritten plan, notably $4 million to help financially troubled South Carolina State University pay off some of its debts.

Amid opposition from Gov. Nikki Haley and an influx of nearly $50 million in unexpected cash, Republican House members rejected Ways and Means’ proposal to borrow $500 million for building projects.

Many pared-down college projects were shoehorned into the rewritten budget, approved late Thursday. Items cut to make room include money for school buses and classroom textbooks.