Budget Resource
Center

...providing state budgets, reports, and current news to help the court community make informed budgetary decisions.

South Carolina

Actions Underway

• South Carolina is both state and locally funded. The state pays the salaries of judges, secretaries, law clerks and court reporters. The county pays the salaries of the clerks of court and also pays for the facilities.
• South Carolina’s total legislatively provided funding was reduced $12.2 million from FY 07-08 levels during FY 08-09. This represents a 30% cut from the FY 07-08 funding level. These same cuts are in effect for FY 09-10.
• South Carolina has implemented a hiring freeze with the exception of filling judicial vacancies. The Court has reduced the travel allowance for judges, law clerks and court reporters and has cut the monthly office allowances for judges.
• South Carolina has authorized the county clerks of court to keep court open on county furlough days with “skeleton” staffing levels.
• This lower level of funding has required South Carolina to use carryover funds that had been accumulated for other purposes, to meet operating expenses. South Carolina is now looking at personnel reductions for FY 09-10.

Reports and Articles

• Michael Moore. "SC Courthouse to Close One Day a Month." Morgan Hill Times. August 6, 2009.
• Sarah DeMarco. "Funding Cut for Victim Witness Program." ABC News 4. March 4, 2009.
• Chief Justice Toal. "State of the Judiciary Address." South Carolina Judicial Department. February 25, 2009.

Gavel to Gavel

• Database. Search the Gavel to Gavel legislation database based on state, year, legislation category, or any combination.

State Links

• Court Budget Web Sites
• Strategic Planning
• State Budgets for 2009
• State Budget Offices