District 66 representative raises concerns over growing government spending, legislative earmarks, and the need to prioritize taxpayers.
FORT MILL, S.C. — South Carolina is growing, but government spending is growing even faster, with little appetite in Columbia to rein it in.
State Representative Jackie Terribile (R–District 66) voted against South Carolina’s FY 2026–2027 state budget, citing concerns about the overall level of spending, the budget process, and the need for greater fiscal restraint.
“More money coming into the state doesn’t mean government needs to spend it all,” said Terribile. “We should fund our priorities, eliminate waste, and return excess revenue to the taxpayers who earned it. If we don’t get spending under control now, our children and grandchildren will be the ones left paying the bill.”
Terribile believes part of the problem is the budget process itself. Once a government program is funded, it tends to stay funded, with too few lawmakers asking whether the program is still needed, whether it is working, or whether it is worth the cost.
“Year after year, the answer seems to be the same: spend more. The budget grows, government grows, and very little ever comes off the books,” Terribile said. “That matters because this is your money. Every dollar spent in Columbia first came from someone who worked for it, earned it, or built a business that produced it.”
Terribile acknowledged that the budget contained worthwhile provisions she supported, including higher starting salaries for teachers and raises for law enforcement officers.
However, legislators must ultimately vote on the entire budget, rather than individual provisions.
“The good provisions did not outweigh my concerns about the overall spending,” Terribile said. “We have a responsibility to look at the entire package and determine whether it represents the best use of taxpayers’ money.”
Terribile also opposed the Legislature’s subsequent appropriations package, which included approximately $350 million in legislator-requested earmarks for local projects and organizations.
While some of those projects addressed legitimate community needs, Terribile has consistently called for greater transparency, accountability, and scrutiny of discretionary spending.
Meanwhile, thousands of families approved for school-choice scholarships were still waiting for funding, and local public schools received less state funding than anticipated.
“That isn’t simply a spending problem. It’s a priorities problem,” Terribile said.
Terribile believes the state’s priorities should be straightforward: education, public safety, and infrastructure.
“We should fully fund the essential responsibilities of government, eliminate unnecessary spending, and when the state collects more than it reasonably needs, return it to the taxpayers who earned it,” she said.
With another legislative session approaching, Terribile is encouraging taxpayers to pay close attention to how their money is being spent.
“Taxpayers should be asking a simple question: Where is our money going, and is Columbia treating it with the care it deserves?”
About Representative Jackie Terribile
Jackie Terribile represents South Carolina House District 66, including portions of Fort Mill and Tega Cay. She serves on the House Education and Public Works Committee and advocates for fiscal responsibility, lower taxes, limited government, and accountability in state spending.
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Thomas Hyslip lives in Tega Cay with his wife and daughter. After 27 years in the U.S. Army and Federal Law Enforcement, he retired to pursue his passion for teaching. Tom is now an Associate Professor of Instruction at the University of South Florida. In 2 short years he has won 10 awards from the South Carolina Press Association, including first place in column writing, education beat reporting and best podcast.
