House takes on budget

COLUMBIA -- As South Carolina considers giving early release to thousands of prison inmates to save money, possible budget cuts might get rid of more than 100 probation and parole workers to keep an eye on them.

A $2 million cut to the Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services was discussed during Tuesday's briefing to prepare House members for deliberations next week on the state's proposed $5 billion budget for July 1 to June 30, 2011.

The cuts to the department also require agency workers to take a mandatory 10-day furlough.

Legislators are working on a plan to overhaul sentencing as a way to divert nonviolent offenders from jail cells to keep beds open for murderers, rapists and other dangerous criminals. Early release of prisoners also could be considered to address a deficit at the Department of Corrections.

Other cost-cutting proposals include:

--An incentive available to teachers who earn National Board Certification would not be available to new applicants after July 1. Those who receive the stipend now will continue to get it through the end of their contract.

--All testing not required by the federal No Child Left Behind law will be suspended.

--Public schools won't purchase new textbooks.

--School districts will decide whether to require teachers to take up to five non-instructional days off without pay.

--The Department of Health and Environmental Control could lay off 250 or more workers and reduce operations in core programs, such as air- and water-quality management.

--Some home-based services provided by the Department of Disabilities and Special Needs could be capped or cut completely, and the agency could eliminate up to 1,000 jobs.

--More than 100 hospital beds available to mentally ill residents could be eliminated and 350 workers laid off at the state Department of Mental Health.

--Foreign trade missions at the state Department of Commerce would be suspended.

--The state Conservation Bank wouldn't have any new money for land preservation.

--The State Law Enforcement Division would lose 27 officers.

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--Forty-three public defenders would lose their jobs.

Senate budget writers are working on drafting their version of the budget. The two bodies will come together to pass a spending plan before summer adjournment.

South Carolina government programs are operating with about $2 billion less in the last two years after falling tax collections have forced budget cuts.