THIS WEEK IN SOUTH CAROLINA The Presidents of South Carolina's three research universities, Dr. Jim Clements, Dr. David Cole (MUSC) and Dr. Harris Pastides (USC) delivered a joint presentation before the Senate Education Committee last week. The presentation highlighted collaborative initiatives between the three institutions as well as their collective impact on the state and an update on the state's investments at each university.
BUDGET The State Budget Process The House Ways and Means Committee completed their work on the state budget last week.
The Ways and Means version of the budget contains the following specifically for Clemson University:
Clemson E&G - No new recurring funding
Clemson PSA - $700,000 in recurring funding for Agriculture and Natural Resources Programming - $600,000 in recurring funding for Statewide Extension Programming
The Committee's version of the budget includes an increase in the cost of health insurance and an increase in retirement contributions for state employees and employers. The employee portion of both the health insurance and retirement contribution increases will be paid by the state.
The budget now goes to the full South Carolina House of Representatives.
Last week, President Jim Clements and Dr. George Askew, Vice President for PSA presented Clemson PSA's budget request before the Natural Resources Subcommittee of the Senate Finance Committee. Members of the subcommittee include Senator Nikki Setzler, Chairman (D-Lexington), Senator Kent Williams (D-Marion), Senator Paul Campbell Clemson '68 (R-Berkeley), and Senator Tom Corbin Clemson '87 (R-Greenville).
President Clements will deliver Clemson's E&G budget presentation to the Higher Education Subcommittee of the Senate Finance Committee on March 1. Members of that Subcommittee include Senator John Courson, Chairman (R-Richland), Senator Darrell Jackson (D-Richland), Senator Paul Campbell Clemson '68 (R-Berkeley), Senator Shane Martin Clemson '94 (R-Spartanburg), and Senator John Scott (D-Richland).
From a state budgeting standpoint, Clemson is considered two separate state agencies: a research university that receives an educational and general (E&G) state appropriation for teaching and student support, and a land-grant Public Service and Agriculture (PSA) division that receives a state appropriation to support agriculture, forestry and natural resource Extension, research and regulatory programs.
The university also has auxiliary operations, such as athletics, student housing and dining services, which receive no state funding and must generate all of their own revenue.
Detailed information on Clemson's 2017 state legislative and budget priorities for FY 2017-18 may be found at these links:
BILLS OF INTEREST The Clemson University Governmental Affairs office is monitoring several bills that have potential impact on Clemson. A complete listing of these bills may be found here. Click on the bill number for a description of the legislation, along with the bill's current status.
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