FY 2023-2024 Budget Brief: Interesting Initiatives Part 3
The Senate Finance Committee (SFC) met on April 3 and 4 3 to debate and vote on its version of H.4300, the FY 2023-2024 General Appropriations Act. The summary control documents are posted on the SFC webpage. View this primer for how to read a summary control document. Looking for what was included in budget requests by state agencies and entities? The Department of Administration posts them online; another transparency initiative of state government.
The first post discussed the big ticket items in the SFC version; today’s post will highlight some interesting initiatives of state government that may not make the front page of local newspapers. This is Part 3 of a series; Part 1 and Part 2 spotlighted some interesting initiatives in the House Ways & Means version of the budget.
The probabilities of these items included in the enacted budget range from highly likely to a coin flip. But in four minutes - 996 words - readers will be that much more informed about this version of the budget.
Interesting Initiatives
Higher Education
Clemson University: College of Veterinary Medicine, $12.5M State recurring and $75M State nonrecurring; Student Experiential Learning, $3.5M Lottery funds
Clemson University Public Service Activities (PSA): Animal Farms Infrastructure, $15.46M State nonrecurring (tied to College of Veterinary Medicine)
University of South Carolina: Rural Brain Health Network and Brain Health Institute, $5M State recurring, $20M State nonrecurring, and $10M Capital Reserve funds; Carolina Internship Pilot Program (also known as Workforce Leadership Internship Program), $3.5M Lottery funds
State Board for Technical and Comprehensive Education: Piedmont Technical College Saluda Campus Advanced Manufacturing Center and New Campus, $14.3M State nonrecurring; Spartanburg Community College Spark Centers, $25M State nonrecurring; Horry-Georgetown Technical College Marine Technology Center, $6M State nonrecurring
Higher education institutions each year submit many budget requests. The largest initiative, in terms of dollars, is Clemson University’s request to create a College of Veterinary Medicine. Collectively the SFC budget allocated $87.5M to the initiative, which is in addition to $10M nonrecurring dollars allocated in the current fiscal year. South Carolina has no school or college of veterinary medicine; the only other Southeast states without one are Arkansas and Kentucky. Residents of South Carolina can pay in-state veterinary school tuition rates at the University of Georgia, Mississippi State University, and Tuskegee University though the number of seats is limited. In its budget request Clemson estimates the total cost from all sources to complete the capital portion of the project is $285M within the next three to four years. This does not include the costs of hiring faculty and development of the curriculum. Additionally, there is a $15.46M allocation to Clemson PSA for building and upgrading animal farm facilities that will be used by the College of Veterinary Medicine.
USC was allocated $35M to support the Rural Brain Health Network, which is “a collaboration between the University of South Carolina (USC) and PrismaHealth to improve the appropriate diagnoses and care for rural South Carolinians with Alzheimer and other dementia-related conditions. The creation of local care practices in rural areas will serve those populations. With a hub and spoke system, these centers will be supported by specialists based in Greenville and Columbia,” according to a budget request submitted by USC. Additionally, the Department of Health and Human Services was allocated $10M in State nonrecurring dollars to pursue an Alzheimer's Disease Research Center designation from the National Institutes on Aging, which would be a collaboration between Clemson, USC, and the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC).
The technical college system compiles individual school requests and submits them for consideration to the Executive Budget Office (EBO) and the appropriations committees. Piedmont Tech is looking to build upon its successful Center for Advanced Manufacturing located in Laurens County by replicating a similar center at its Saluda County campus. The centers provide workforce development training for local industries. Spartanburg Community College wants to expand its Spark Center, which not only provides workforce training but also a small business incubator and a “soft landings” assistance program for domestic or foreign companies looking to operate in Spartanburg County before they select a permanent facility. Horry-Georgetown Tech was allocated $6M for a marine technology center, due to its highly-successful outboard marine technology program founded in 2019. This is the only program in the state leading to Yamaha Marine Corporation certifications, one of the world’s leading marine and boating industry manufacturers.
Agriculture
Department of Agriculture: Growing Agribusiness Fund, $40M State nonrecurring
Clemson University Public Service Activities (PSA): Poultry Science Research Facility, $4.56M State nonrecurring
South Carolina State University Public Service Activities (PSA): SC Limnology Center, $3.5M State nonrecurring; Agribusiness Development and Expansion Support, $2.5M State nonrecurring; Camp Daniels Training and Activity Center, $2.5M State nonrecurring
Forestry Commission: Contract Single Engine Air Tanker, $3.5M State nonrecurring
Commissioner of Agriculture Hugh Weathers wants to recruit more agribusiness to the state especially in processing and packaging. While his first request was $75M for this initiative, SFC budget writers allocated $40M to it with the clear message that if this first installment shows success, more investment could be made available in the future. Agriculture is a $50B industry in South Carolina, with a little more than half from traditional agriculture and the remainder from forestry.
Clemson and SC State Universities provide public services beyond education and research, especially to the agricultural community. Both had interesting requests funded by SFC budget writers. Clemson requested funds to construct a new poultry science research facility. Poultry is a significant industry in South Carolina. According to the South Carolina Poultry Federation, the state ranks 8th nationally in turkey production, 13th in broilers, and 17th in eggs. Having access to instate researchers is critical to the poultry producers. SC State received allocations for agribusiness development and education activities, including the development of a virtual reality training center for youth interested in agriculture to be housed at Camp Daniels. Another request would create the SC Limnology Center, a first in the state. Limnology is the study of inland aquatic ecosystems, such as lakes and rivers, and includes aspects of the biological, chemical, physical, and geological characteristics of fresh and saline, natural and man-made bodies of water.
The Forestry Commission may not be the largest state agency, but timber comprises nearly half of the total economic impact of agriculture in South Carolina, nearly $23.2B according to an October 2022 study. Preventing forest fires and managing state forests are important work, not just for state assets but also to support and protect the timber industry. The SFC budget recommends $3.5M for the Forestry Commission to contract with providers of single engine air tankers in the event aerial resources with fire fighting capabilities are needed to fight a fire. According to the Forestry Commission, this funding is sufficient to procure the services of two aircraft for 60-day periods during the height of wildfire season for the next five years.
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