State facing buckets or red ink, no easy solutions

Cigarette tax would provide some relief

State budgeters and state politicians may not agree on the size of the economic black hole facing South Carolina, but they all agree there is a black hole.

“This will be one of the toughest years I’ve had,” predicted 27-year General Assembly veteran Sen. Hugh Leatherman, R-Florence. “2001 to 2003 was tough but nothing like what we are looking at today.”

Meeting with the press last week, budget Director Les Boles said the state was starting its budget preparation $80.8 million in the red and warned the number could grow to $570 million if basic funding issues aren’t addressed. Read more