Salary set for leader of SC’s environmental services agency. Here’s what it is
South Carolina’s director of the new Department of Environmental Services will earn $228,622 a year, the state’s Agency Head Salary Commission decided on Wednesday.
Department of Environmental Services Director Myra Reece previously earned just under $180,000 a year, which was the minimum pay for her job.
Reece was appointed by Gov. Henry McMaster to the role as the agency’s first director. She was confirmed by the state Senate in April.
During Reece’s confirmation she was pressed on her view about climate change and how she balances private property rights against the need to protect beaches. Some lawmakers have been upset about how state beach protection efforts affect private landowners who build along the shore.
Reece told senators beaches are important to the state’s tourism economy and said state law requires beaches to be protected.
Reece worked as director of environmental affairs for the previous South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control from December 2015 until the agency’s reorganization in July 2024. She worked for more than 30 years at DHEC.
McMaster requested the pay increase “given Ms. Reece’s leadership experience at the department and to reflect her performance and service to the state,” he wrote.
Tony Catone, the new director of the Department of Social Services had his salary set at $250,000. Catone, who is a lawyer, has been with DSS, which is responsible for the well being of children and vulnerable adults, for 10 years. He previously served as the agency’s general counsel and earned $200,000 a year.
Catone has also held leadership positions at Florida Atlantic University and Clemson University.
He replaced previous Director Michael Leach, who resigned last year.
“(Catone) has done an exemplary job leading the agency since stepping in as acting director earlier this year,” McMaster wrote.
Office of Resilience Director Ben Duncan also received his first raise since being appointed to the job four years ago. His new annual salary is now $195,000, up from $140,400.
McMaster requested the increase to “to reflect his performance and service to the state,” the governor said in a letter to those on the commission.
Erin Farthing, the director of the State Accident Fund had her salary increased to $154,873 from $121,885 a year. Farthing has been with agency for 12 years and became acting director in 2021. She was confirmed by the state Senate in 2023.
“During this time, Director Farthing has been instrumental in restoring stability and public trust in the agency and ensuring that workers’ compensation coverage is delivered to hundreds of thousands of public employees in a reliable and efficient manner,” McMaster wrote.
The commission also set the pay for Will Lou Gray Opportunity School’s new director Robert Collars, who will start on the job on July 1, at $134,931.
The commission also approved the salary increase for Public Service Commission Chief Clerk Jocelyn Boyd to $190,000, which is up from $155,000. The PSC regulates rates of public utilities.
