THIS WEEK IN SOUTH CAROLINA
The full Senate Finance Committee approved H.3516 (South Carolina Infrastructure and Economic Development Reform Act) as amended by the Transportation Subcommittee. 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.
BUDGET
The House of Representatives completed their work on the state budget last week.
The House version of the budget contains the following specifically for Clemson University:
Clemson E&G
– Adoption of Clemson’s current base budget only. No new recurring or nonrecurring funding.
Clemson PSA
– $700,000 in recurring funding for Agriculture and Natural Resources Programming
– $600,000 in recurring funding for Statewide Extension Programming
The House 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 employer portion of both will have to be covered partially by the university. The House did fund 1% of the 2% increase in the employer retirement contribution.
The Senate Finance Committee will begin work on the state budget tomorrow.
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:
Clemson Education and General (E&G) Priorities
Clemson Public Service and Agriculture (PSA) Priorities
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.
FYI
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