After veto, Mitchelville to again seek state money

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (AP) — Supporters of preserving the site of historic Mitchelville on Hilton Head Island say they will again seek state money, even after Gov. Nikki Haley vetoed $200,000 for the project.

The Island Packet of Hilton Head reports (http://bit.ly/Oye8dX ) Mitchelville is the site of one of the nation’s first communities for freed slaves. Lawmakers this week upheld Haley’s veto of money for the project.

Haley says she’s sending a clear message that the state has learned from its past of port barrel spending.

But Republican Rep. Bill Herbkersman of Bluffton disagrees with that characterization for Mitchelville. He calls the site a state treasure, not a pet project.

He says supporters will try next year to get money through state agencies, instead of a line item in the budget that could be vetoed.

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Information from: The Island Packet, http://www.islandpacket.com