SC Budget Waste
Waste of the Day
Friday's Waste of the Day: State-Run Golf Courses
Columbia, S.C. - May 15, 2009 - Today's Waste of the Day is state-run golf course parks that lose nearly $500,000 annually.
The state owns and operates golf courses at two state parks - Hickory Knob State Park and Cheraw State Park. After noting the parks' annual revenue loss several years ago, Gov. Sanford suggested privatizing their operations - because if there's anything the private sector has demonstrated an ability to succeed in managing in South Carolina, it's golf courses. Instead, budget writers inserted a provision that specifically prohibits the state Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism (PRT) from exploring private management options. PRT has successfully privatized operations of bait shops at several state parks, saving thousands each year.
Thursday’s Waste of the Day: Gameday Traffic Control
Columbia, S.C. - May 14, 2009 - Today’s Waste of the Day is taxpayer subsidized traffic control for football games and other special events. Rather than allowing the Highway Patrol to recoup its costs from event organizers and the Universities, each year it costs the Patrol nearly $1 million to provide this service for special events across the state.
In fact, the biggest single cost to the Patrol is college football, costing $567,000 with USC and Clemson constituting $473,000 of that amount. Universities reap millions in revenue from broadcast contracts related to their games. For example, the Southeastern Conference, of which USC is a part, signed a deal with ESPN last year worth over $2 billion over the next 15 years. When events like these produce big profits, does it make sense for one arm of government - and by extension taxpayers - to subsidize the arm of government reaping a windfall as a result of the event?
Wednesday’s Waste of the Day: Mileage Rates
Columbia, S.C. - May 13, 2009 - Today’s Waste of the Day is mileage reimbursement rates that have remained the same after gas spiked last year at nearly $4 per gallon, but haven’t been adjusted downward since then to reflect lower fuel costs.
When the budget passed last year, mileage reimbursement was increased from 44.5 cents per mile to 50.5 cents per mile. Since that time, the cost of gasoline has dropped 45 percent. Each additional penny of reimbursement costs the state $380,000, and taking the reimbursement rate back to 44.5 cents would save the state $2.28 million annually.