THIS WEEK IN SOUTH CAROLINA
Schedules for the House and Senate are suspended due to growing concerns over COVID-19. Both chambers are expected to convene briefly to pass legislation immediately appropriating $45 million of state surplus dollars to the Department of Health and Environmental Control as part of the state’s response to the virus. Afterwards, the General Assembly will be on leave indefinitely (the House is already on furlough this week).
The Senate is also expected to pass a continuing resolution to fund state government at current levels in the event that the General Assembly is unable to pass the state budget by July 1.
The State Budget Process
The House of Representatives finalized its work on the state budget on Wednesday of last week. Below is a summary of the items impacting Clemson University:
Clemson E&G
– $8.14 million in recurring funding for in-state tuition mitigation
– $25 million in nonrecurring funding for maintenance and renovation
Clemson PSA
– $1,127,250 in recurring funding for Comprehensive Statewide Extension Programs
– $843,800 in recurring funding for Critical Fruit & Vegetable Research
– $2 million in nonrecurring funding for Research & Education (REC) Center graduate school housing
– $2 million in nonrecurring funding for Pee Dee REC greenhouse construction
– $990,000 in nonrecurring funding for Sandhill REC building repairs
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 will be paid by the state. The employer portion of both will have to be covered partially by the university.
The House budget also proposes merit-based salary increases for state employees across state agencies.
The House version of the budget does include a proviso that would require a freeze on tuition for in state students.
President Jim Clements, along with Tony Wagner (Executive Vice President for Finance and Operations) gave Clemson’s Education and General (E&G) budget presentation to the Senate Finance Budget Subcommittee on Higher Education on Tuesday, March 10.
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 state legislative and budget priorities for FY 20-21 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.
NEWS AND FYI
Please follow CU at the Capitol on Twitter. Current news coverage of interest may be found here.