(A) The LightRail Consortium shall receive such funding as may be provided by the General Assembly in the annual general appropriations act, supplemental appropriations act, or in other provisions of law. This funding must be provided to its participating universities for purposes of the LightRail. Funds appropriated to Clemson University, the Medical University of South Carolina, and the University of South Carolina in the 2007-2008 general appropriations act for the South Carolina LightRail Consortium shall continue to be used for those purposes consistent with the requirements of this chapter and other applicable provisions of law.

(B) The LightRail Consortium shall manage its own funding provided to it by the member institutions, based on a budget prepared and administered by the chairman of the board, and recommended by the board. The consortium funding appropriated to a particular member institution must be administered individually by that institution, except in those instances when consortium actions, services, or activities require joint budget action. Sufficient annual funding to meet the strategic and operational needs of South Carolina LightRail Consortium is the joint and co-equal responsibility of the member institutions, and the responsibility of each member institution to provide such funding must be determined annually by the board upon agreement of the institutions concerned.