Proposal to Borrow $200 Million for SC Public Colleges

  COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) _ A House budget panel chairman is proposing borrowing roughly $200 million to pay for maintenance at South Carolina’s public colleges.

Republican Rep. Jim Merrill of Charleston said Wednesday his subcommittee will introduce the proposal when the budget debate moves to the House floor next month.

GOP Gov. Nikki Haley has staunchly opposed issuing a bond bill for colleges.

Merrill says he, too, opposes funding new construction but contends the state has a responsibility to prevent existing buildings from falling apart. He says if that happens, taxpayers will pay anyway, either through the state budget or higher tuition.

Merrill says colleges included in the package would have to meet certain conditions, such as freezing or lowering tuition. He says the state’s debt won’t increase because old debt is being paid off.