South Carolina Senate prepares to debate $12.6 billion budget | South Carolina News
COLUMBIA, SC (AP) — The South Carolina Senate is set to debate its version of the state’s $12.6 billion spending plan.
The budget for the 2022-2023 fiscal year is built around $1 billion in income tax refunds and an additional $1 billion in reductions, compared to the $600 million tax cut proposed by the Room.
This leaves two big differences with the plan of the house. The Senate budget removes a one-time $1,500 bonus for state employees, with supporters saying the tax cut and rebate will provide similar help to their pocketbooks.
The Senate also only guarantees to increase the minimum salary for new teachers to $38,000, while the House sets the new minimum at $40,000.
Several teachers’ groups and Governor Henry McMaster are calling on the Senate to go ahead and raise the minimum wage to $40,000, saying South Carolina is falling further behind states like South Carolina. Mississippi on teacher starting salaries as classroom vacancies go unfilled.
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The debate in the Senate is expected to begin on Tuesday. Once the Senate passes its version, a small group of lawmakers from both chambers will likely negotiate the differences between the budget plans and the suggested tax cuts later this spring.
The House spending plan is $1.3 billion more than the Senate’s because of the lower tax cut proposal.
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