Pay raises for SC state employees settled. Here’s how much more money they can expect
South Carolina state employees can expect a pay raise of $2,500 or 5%, whichever is higher, state budget writers have decided.
With $800 million in additional money available to disburse in what will total a $13.8 billion budget, the House agreed to the more expensive Senate plan for state employee pay increases.
The agreement means state employees earning less than $50,000 a year will receive a $2,500 pay raise. Those earning more would receive a 5% increase. The approach, which will cost the state an additional $155 million a year, is meant to give those on the lower end of the pay scale a larger percentage increase to deal with the effects of inflation.
The House initially proposed spending only $124 million on raises, giving a $2,500 raise to any employee earning $83,000 or less. Those earning more than $83,000 would have received a 3% raise.
House members also agreed to not spend an additional $200 million for the S.C. Department of Transportation for additional bridge maintenance work.
“We look forward to continuing the dialogue with the General Assembly in the coming years to address infrastructure needs in South Carolina, particularly on our bridges,” the transportation department said in a statement to The State. “Over the next six months, we will continue our planning work on the bridge needs for our interstates and primary routes.”
The transportation department already has received additional money with the state gas tax increase, which was phased in between 2017 and 2022, and additional annual general fund dollars lawmakers allocated last year.
“Our economy has been hot, so the gas tax has been ahead of projections,” House Ways and Means Chairman Bruce Bannister, R-Greenville, said.
One of the differences between the final House budget and Senate budget that will need to be worked out in a conference committee next week is money for the state agency that helps homeowners and communities make repairs from natural disasters such as floods or hurricanes.
At the request of the governor, the House proposed $200 million for the agency’s disaster relief and resilience reserve fund.
“We know from recent history how hurricanes and major flooding events can devastate our communities, and we’re still helping residents in Charleston, Georgetown and Horry counties to recover and rebuild,” McMaster wrote in his executive budget.
House members also added $40 million for the Savannah River National Lab for cybersecurity research. The Batelle Alliance will develop workforce training programs designed to fill engineering, science, research and management positions for nuclear facilities operated by the Department of Energy, according to the governor’s executive budget, which initially asked for $100 million.
The Senate also put in $3.2 million for the State Election Commission to provide training and support for county election offices and an additional $1.1 million to fill positions to help with media requests, voter education and outreach and agency administration.
The differences between the two versions of the budget also include money for local-level projects requested by individual lawmakers, commonly referred to as earmarks. The House budget includes $398 million worth ofindividual lawmakers’ requests, while the Senate budget includes $314 million worth of earmarks.
“So if you’re talking about big differences (in settling the budget), you’re getting down into the weeds. The big differences are the small things,” Bannister said.
This story was originally published May 10, 2023 at 11:44 AM.
