Students wouldn’t get new textbooks, school districts would be forced to consolidate and three colleges would close under Governor Mark Sanford’s budget plan. Spending on colleges and K-12 education accounts for nearly half of the Republican governor’s $5.8 billion budget proposal for 2009-2010.

South Carolina’s budget problems will likely get worse. The director of the Office of State Budget said Thursday keeping up with the state’s current obligations would add 567 million dollars to the state’s a billion dollars budget gap.

Georgia drivers save at the pump as the gas tax is reduced by four cents down to 14.6 cents. But, the state depends on revenue from the gas tax to fund road construction projects. Georgia is facing a $2 billion deficit and state lawmakers say it will be a challenge to generate reveune. Count on Renita Crawford for the story.

City officials have certainly stayed busy this week. Augusta Commissioners voted not to increase next year’s budget, so they’re looking at making some changes in its public transit. Changes that many riders made clear Thursday night, they didn’t like. WJBF News Channel 6’s Barclay Bishop has more.

The City of Augusta is taking steps to cut the numbers of workers.

Georgia legislative leaders have voted to put
off a 2.5 percent cost of living increase for state lawmakers.

State budget cuts that have already occurred and future cuts next year could start affecting your safety on South Carolina’s roads and highways. The Highway Patrol graduated 36 new state troopers Friday, but a smaller class that was supposed to start training in January has been canceled and Public Safety director Mark Keel says he does not expect there to be any new troopers hired next year because of the budget cuts. WJBF News Channel 6’s Capitol reporter, Robert Kittle, has more.

It’s a big box to provide space for conventions and trade shows, The ‘TEE’ Center, short for Trade Exhibit and Events Center.  It was a big priority when Augusta officials put in on the sales tax list in 2005 and voters approved $20 million for it. Now, Commissioners are looking at another sales tax and the ‘TEE’ Center is back in line, looking for $20 million more. WJBF News Channel 6’s George Eskola has more.

Georgia colleges and universities will feel the pinch, once again. Wednesday, the state’s Board of Regents approved another budget cut. Count on our Fraendy Clervaud. He has the story.

State economists say tax cuts, rather than the economic downturn, are to blame for much of South Carolina’s budget problems this year.

Economists say the new year will continue to bring South Carolina bleak financial news.

The state Board of Regents has approved steeper budget cuts and hikes on student fees to deal with the state’s worsening financial crisis.

Some South Carolina lawmakers think legalizing some forms of gambling could ease the state’s budget’s problems.

Charleston Sen. Robert Ford says making video gambling legal again in South Carolina and other forms of gambling could ease the state’s budget problems.

Gov. Mark Sanford says a new $6 million security system at the Statehouse is a “colossal waste” and has ordered state police away from some checkpoints.