Monday, September 6, 2010

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- South Carolina colleges and universities have spent more than $1 billion on building projects in the past four years and some state lawmakers agree with the governor that it's time to put on the brakes.

The Greenville News reported Sunday that the schools say the buildings have been necessary.

But Gov. Mark Sanford has suggested putting a moratorium on new building that he says has caused large tuition increases at the state's colleges in recent years.

The schools say tuition increases have been tied to cuts in their budgets made by state lawmakers.

School officials point out that some money to pay for the buildings comes from sources other than state revenues. But Sanford says that even if someone else footed the entire bill for new construction, taxpayers would still have to pay to operate and maintain them.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)