Gov. Henry McMaster has some support from Lexington County lawmakers.

The governor wants to give the taxpayers $425 million of an expected $1.8 billion tax surplus.

“Prosperity requires fiscal restraint and conservative stewardship of taxpayer dollars,” McMaster said.

“A surplus means prioritizing and funding the state’s most critical needs, then returning the rest to the taxpayers or cutting taxes.”

Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey who represents western Lexington County estimates it would cost millions to write and mail tax refunds.

He favors cutting taxes.

Rep. Micah Caskey of Springdale says the state should adopt a zero-based planning process to figure out what is needed and how much to tax its citizens.

For example, Caskey told the West Metro Rotary Club, the state could raise teachers’ pay by doing away with duplication in the Department of Education.

The department has bureaucrats doing what others in local school districts are already doing, he said.

Caskey is critical of spending by the University of South Carolina board and its administration.

If lawmakers cut the university appropriation, the administration passes on the cost to students, he said.

That places a burden on students and their parents.

Caskey said you can enroll in some out-of-state colleges for less than it costs to go to the university here.