Chapman, Sanders Offer Grants to Help Replace Loss of Earmark Funding

Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer

The South Carolina General Assembly decision to pause earmarks (now called directed spending) in the current state budget will have potentially negative consequences for in every county, especially in rural areas.

Many small counties and towns in the state lack the tax base to fund essential infrastructure upgrades like water and sewer systems, roads, and public safety equipment (such as aging firetrucks). Earmarks have historically been a vital source of one-time funding for these projects, preventing critical services from deteriorating further. Without earmarks, these communities may struggle to make necessary improvements, leading to patchwork approaches instead of permanent solutions.

The lack of earmark funds also threatens many projects already in process. The sudden end of this funding could leave these projects unfinished or necessitate a search for alternative, potentially more expensive, funding sources.

These funds have also traditionally provided crucial support to local nonprofits that offer essential services, such as feeding programs, housing the homeless, and health initiatives. The absence of these funds could force some organizations to cut services or even close, leaving vulnerable populations without needed assistance.

The loss of earmarks, or "community investments" as some South Carolina legislators prefer to call them, is anticipated to have a significant impact on the state, particularly on its rural and less affluent areas. While some view the pause in earmarks as a positive step for transparency and fiscal responsibility, others warn of the potential harm it could inflict.

Ending earmarks permanently could threaten transparency in government, and the return to the old process of bobtail legislation where funded projects were often hidden within bills or agency budgets.

Hopefully the discussion on finding alternative, more structured ways to fund local projects in the future, such as grant programs with an application and vetting process, might find a solution to funding local community needs in a transparent way, while addressing state budget priorities.

In the meantime, two members of the Anderson County Legislative Delegation are already planning to provide grants for their districts with the increased monthly in-district compensation funds. The monthly increase in the funds, from $1,000 to $2,500 is intended to be used in their legislative duties but can be used in anything,

Some leglislators have said they will turn down the increase and have until Monday to declare their intentions.

S.C. Rep. Blake Sanders, Dist. 9, and S.C. Rep. Don Chapman, Dist. 8, have announced plans to use the additional funds to award grants in their respective districts.

Sanders said it’s important to use money for district to serve his constituents. His simple application form, nine questions, is available here, and will provide one $1,500 grant monthly.

If more than 12 groups apply for the grant, a local group will work with Sanders to decide who receives the funds.

“I would encourage other members of the General Assembly to use these funds to serve their district,” said Sanders.

Chapman will offer six $5,000 grants in his district with the new funds. He said he will provide funds as they become available and post the distribution of the money online for transparency purposes.

“We have a simple application for specific projects,” said Chapman. Application here. Nonprofits, fire departments and other groups in Dist. 8 are eligible He said he will evaluation applications and possibly put together a committee to determine who gets the funding.

Both Sanders and Champman said the funding will not replace the charitable contributions they already provide in their districts from personal funds.