THIS WEEK IN SOUTH CAROLINA Last week, the House Ways and Means Capital Needs and Bonding Subcommittee met to begin discussions on a potential bond bill. Each Ways and Means Budget Subcommittee Chair presented their respective state agencies' maintenance and renovation requests.
The Senate Finance Transportation Subcommittee approved H.3516 (South Carolina Infrastructure and Economic Development Reform Act) as amended. The Subcommittee amendment increases the state's gas tax by twelve cents per gallon, potentially generating $800 million per year to address the state's roads and bridges. The bill now goes to the full Senate Finance Committee and could see debate in the full Senate this week.
BUDGET The State Budget Process The House of Representatives will begin work on the state budget today at 1pm.
The Senate Finance Committee continued holding budget subcommittee hearings with the Commission on Higher Education, Francis Marion University and Winthrop University presenting their budget requests last week.
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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