Budget cuts were on the minds of many at Monday’s Farm Bureau Legislative Banquet.

Senator Ronnie Cromer led the discussion by asking how everyone is to make-do and recover with the current economy.

Cromer said the Senate is looking at putting a cap on spending.

The legislature currently requires county and municipal governments to cap spending and Cromer added the new legislation would only be fair.

House District 15 Member Jeff Duncan said that the state needs education finance reform.

“There is layer after layer of mandates...EIA, No Child Left Behind, Act 388. Let (School District Superintendent) Bennie (Bennett) and his guys deal with it at the local level. The idea is to stop funding programs and start funding children. The children (like those with disabilities) who cost more, get more. The school district can design a program that works and fits the community best,“ said Duncan.

Bennett said the district has absorbed all the cuts it can without reducing jobs.

“The last place we want to cut is the classroom,“ said Bennett.

School Board Chair Don Saylor says with budget cuts “it will be a new game in July.“ He adds that positions could be cut for the next school year and the school board’s decisions will “affect a lot of lives.“

Chief of Police Jackie Swindler added that mandates flow from Washington, D.C. to Columbia to Newberry.

“Bank robberies are up all over. Criminals are doing wrong because they are sorry, not hungry,“ said Swindler. “We are also facing challenges we never had before. We don’t get to pick our customer base.“

Sheriff Lee Foster says his officers may have to take on more with the state passing down administrative alcohol enforcement to sheriffs’ offices. The new responsibilities would mandate county law enforcement be in charge of checking nightclubs to make sure the law is being followed.

The new duties will require deputies to be bonded at $5,000, instead of the current $1,000, which will up the county’s costs, although none of the fine money from enforcement is set to be distributed locally.

Foster said he is also cutting budgets by only feeding inmates at the jail meat three days a week. For lunch they get peanut butter sandwiches. Other meals consist of rice and beans.

“All of the milk and eggs we use come from Newberry County,“ Foster shared at the Farm Bureau meeting.

House District 40 Representative Walt McLeod told the group that agribusiness is vital to the state and county.

He reminded those in attendance that the county ranks first in milk and forestry production in the state, and third in eggs.

Agriculture is a $33 billion industry in South Carolina, said Duncan, adding the state needs to make a return to promoting agriculture.

Other concerns discussed include the potential regulation of farmers using surface water from wells and ponds, storm water run-off, tobacco fee increases and reforming sales tax exemptions.