SC Gov. Haley’s vetoes cut funding for projects in Lowcountry and around the state

COLUMBIA — The ink from Gov. Nikki Haley’s veto pen has dried, and several Lowcountry projects will be affected if state lawmakers go along with the first-term Republican’s strikes to the state budget.

Haley issued 81 vetoes late Thursday night to the $6.7 billion general fund budget that legislators approved last week, along with another $100 million in spending from a reserve fund.

Among Haley’s targets were more than $428,000 in state funding for the Charleston-based Sea Grant Consortium and $200,000 for the City of Charleston African-American Historic Sites Preservation.

The consortium’s director was still gathering information on the veto Friday morning and couldn’t yet say how the group could be impacted.

The consortium supports coastal research education and extension for member institutions including The Citadel, College of Charleston and Medical University of South Carolina.

Haley also eliminated funding for the State Arts Commission.

Lawmakers had planned to come back to Columbia in September to take up Haley’s vetoes, but could elect to come back sooner to keep organizations with stripped funding afloat.

Check back at postandcourier.com and in tomorrow’s editions of The Post and Courier for more on this story. Reach Stephen Largen at 864-641-8172 and follow him on Twitter @stephenlargen.