Last week I joined my colleagues in Columbia for what will likely be the last House session until we reconvene in January 2024.
In the budget bill I was able to gain the support of my colleagues and the Governor for funding a number of important District needs.
One of those is the dredging of Murrells Inlet channels, many of which are no longer navigable and impede the water flow needed for a healthy estuary.
The budget bill appropriates $10 million for inlet dredging which, combined with prior budget bill appropriations, means that over $14 million is now available for the dredging project.
Here are some of the other appropriations for the District included in the budget:
*$6 million for Horry-Georgetown Technical College’s boat building and outboard marine technology facility on the Georgetown campus.
*$2.5 million to Georgetown County to fix port facilities on the state ports property in Georgetown that was transferred to the county.
*$250,000 for Town of Pawleys Island drainage work.
*$250,000 for the nonprofit Smith Medical Clinic in Pawleys Island to help fund medical care for over 2,000 low-income, uninsured, Georgetown County residents.
*$190,000 for Murrells Inlet bike path parking, which brings total state budget funding for the parking to $515,000.
We set an ambitious agenda for the session that included improving statewide economic development, reforming our education system, implementing fiscal discipline, increasing personal freedom, and prioritizing public safety and made meaningful progress towards achieving our goals.
On June 14th, I was honored to be appointed by House Speaker Murrell Smith to the Land Development Study Committee, which is tasked with examining current and prospective ways to manage land development.
As chair of the Murrells Inlet Boat Parade, just a reminder that the 40th annual parade is on Tuesday, July 4th, starting at 6 pm. This year’s theme is “Made in the USA.”
I’m honored to represent District 108 in the House. Please let me know if I can be of any assistance.
Rep. Lee Hewitt