South Carolina lawmakers reach budget deal after weeks of negotiations

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - Twenty-two days into South Carolina’s new fiscal year, state lawmakers have reached a compromise on the state budget, clearing the way for funding priorities that include pay raises for teachers and state employees, as well as critical funding tied to SNAP benefits.

Budget negotiators finalized the agreement after resolving several major points of contention. The full House and Senate must still return to Columbia to vote on the spending plan before it can be sent to Gov. Henry McMaster for final approval.

According to lawmakers, the final sticking points involved earmarks for local projects, a homestead property tax exemption for seniors and a $150 million funding request connected to Scout Motors.

Under the compromise, all earmarks have been removed from the budget and will instead be reviewed by a special committee. The committee will evaluate each request and determine which projects should receive funding. Lawmakers will later vote on those earmarks in a separate bill.

Members of the budget conference committee said separating the earmarks issue was necessary to prevent further delays in passing the state budget.

Sen. Tom Davis, R-Beaufort, a budget conferee, said securing a property tax reduction was a top priority for the Senate.

“It was very important to the Senate that we get the property tax cut, and that’s a down payment to a larger tax cut next year,” Davis said. “We’ve essentially deferred for another day how we’re going to address the remaining issues of earmarks and Scout payments.”

Lawmakers also opted to delay a decision on the Scout Motors funding request until the Legislative Audit Council completes its review.

Rep. Bruce Bannister, R-Greenville, vice chair of the budget conference committee, praised the agreement, saying it addresses several long-standing legislative priorities.

“It takes care of the tax cut, takes care of the teachers, it takes care of law enforcement, return to work for our law enforcement, which has been a long-time project in the House we’ve been trying to do,” Bannister said. “The investment in roads and CTCs — there’s a lot of things in this budget that are going to make our members happy.”

Lawmakers said they hope to return to Columbia either next week or the following week to hold final votes in their respective chambers. Once approved by both the House and Senate, the budget will head to the governor’s desk.

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