COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) – South Carolina’s $13.2 billion budget passed the House largely unchanged as Republican leaders reign in efforts to shift spending priorities to other areas. .
The House of Representatives approved the 2024-25 fiscal year budget on Wednesday to cheers and declarations that budget staff will take the rest of the week off.
Boeing whistleblower’s lawyer demands full investigation into mysterious death during deposition
It will now move to the Senate. The Finance Committee and chamber will closely examine the issue into April. Last year, the House and Senate spending plans appeared to be essentially in harmony, but there was a three-week standoff over the roughly $100 million it would cost to establish Clemson University’s School of Veterinary Medicine.
House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Bruce Bannister said he expects there will be some disagreement in the Senate again this year, but he wouldn’t predict where it will be.
South Carolina Rep. Josiah Magnuson (R-Campo Bello) asks a question as the House of Representatives considers the state’s $13.2 billion budget on Tuesday, March 12, 2024 in Columbia, South Carolina.
“We’re going to have a conference committee meeting, and it’s going to be just as intense as last year,” the Greenville Republican said after Wednesday’s runoff.
The House plan includes pay raises for teachers and state employees, $500 million in property tax relief, $200 million for bridge construction and $100 million to continue long-term income tax cuts.
The Freedom Caucus, which is made up of about 16 of the most conservative members of the House of Representatives, proposed a number of unsuccessful proposals. The group plans to use funds that go toward the South Carolina Arts Commission, business incentives, and college tuition freezes to give raises to county legislators, roads, foster care, or other items they call “core functions of government.” I was thinking of spending it on.
Their amendment attracted less than 20 supporters in the 124-member chamber.
Republican leaders say many of the amendments are short-sighted, giving raises to county legislators but not giving similar raises to city executives to keep South Carolina growing and prosperous. Said to be ignoring what should be done.
“The core functions of government are all included in this budget: infrastructure, education, law enforcement, taxpayer support, and tax relief,” Bannister said.
Speaker Murrell Smith said the final vote of 104-15 showed the House needed to work together rather than argue.
“It’s time for us to come together and stop politics and focus on policy,” said Smith, a Republican from Sumter.
House budget writers spent less than last year, in part due to the end of pandemic relief, leaving them unable to pay for more than half of the costs requested by state officials.
But the booming state still saw tax revenues rise and big-ticket items added.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
The House budget includes $200 million for teacher pay increases, along with bridge funding, property tax and income tax relief. All teachers will receive a raise, and the minimum salary for beginning teachers will increase to $47,000 per year. This budget would allow teachers to receive annual raises for each of their first 28 years, rather than their first 23 years.
All state employees would also receive raises. Employees who earn less than $66,666 will receive a flat $1,000 raise, and employees who earn more than that amount will receive a 1.5% raise. The state will also pay $107 million to cover increased health insurance premiums for workers.
