Sports
SPEAK OUT: Sporting Events Cost SC Taxpayers $635K
For each game at Williams-Brice Stadium and Death Valley this fall, 90 troopers will work 12-hour shifts to direct traffic at home games. But should taxpayers foot the bill? Tell us in the comments section below.
South Carolina taxpayers are footing the bill for a pretty big bill and they may not even realize it.
The State newspaper reported Sunday that taxpayers are paying about $635,000 each year for traffic enforcement at football games.
Taking the largest chunk of that cash, $469,000, are the 90 troopers who will work 12-hour shifts to direct traffic at homes games at USC's Williams-Brice Stadium and Clemson's Death Valley, the Department of Public Safety told the paper.
Another $10,850 will go to assist with traffic at S.C. State Bulldogs' games in Orangeburg, DPS officials said.
But since 1996, the state budget has barred the Department of Public Safety from charging for their services.
School officials say the games bring more money in to the state than the state pays out for traffic enforcement and public safety on game days.
Read more of the story here.Â
What do you think about the amount of money the state is spending on football?
Should lawmakers push harder to have schools pay for those services out-of-pocket? Tell us in the comments section below.
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