South Carolina’s state employees would see more money in raises under a spending plan approved by senators Wednesday.
The Senate’s $13 billion budget includes spending $155.6 million on state employee raises. That is $31 million more than the House budget allocated last month.
How much money the state will ultimately spend on state employee raises along with a host of other spending issues — from teacher pay to Medicare expenses to construction projects at colleges and state agencies — will depend on negotiations that will now happen between the Senate and their counterparts in the House. Both chambers must come to an agreement on a final state budget before it can be signed into action by the governor.
Under the Senate plan, state employees earning less than $50,000 a year would receive a $2,500 pay raise. Those earning more than $50,000 would receive a 5% raise.
By contrast, the House budget plan includes less money, $124 million, for state employee raises, where those earning less than $83,000 would receive a $2,500 raise. Those earning more than $83,000 would get a 3% raise.
Like the House, the Senate agreed to spend $121 million more on the state’s health insurance plan to make sure those on the plan don’t see a premium increase.
The Senate spending plan also includes $196 million more than the current year’s budget for the Department of Health and Human Services to keep up with inflationary costs, increased Medicare premium increases and increased reimbursement rates.
Senators agreed with the House plan to raise every cell in the state’s base teacher salary schedule by $2,500. It brings the starting salary from $40,000 to $42,500. The goal is to reach a starting salary of $50,000 by 2026.
“We’re continuing the momentum toward increasing salaries for our teachers and recognizing they serve a great population in our state,” said Sen. Sean Bennett, R-Dorchester.
However, neither chamber included a $2,500 retention bonus for teachers who stayed the entire school year in their district. It was an idea pushed by Gov. Henry McMaster and state Superintendent Ellen Weaver.
“We are in a critical (teacher) shortage in South Carolina,” Sen said. Mike Fanning, D-Fairfield, who tried to get the bonus into the spending plan, to no avail.
Hundreds of millions of dollars were included for colleges and universities. The Senate included $94 million in for colleges, universities and technical schools to freeze tuition rates.
Senators also approved spending $540 million for deferred maintenance and other capital projects at colleges and universities. This amount includes $75 million to build a veterinary school at Clemson University. The state does not have a veterinary school, which forces students to leave the state to study to become veterinarian.
Senate budget writers also included more than $28.4 million for state law enforcement and correctional officer pay raises to compete with other law enforcement agencies and the private sector.
Under the spending plan, the Department of Juvenile Justice would get $71 million for safety and security upgrades, construction of a new detention center, improvement projects and renovations to the Broad River Road facility renovations.
“This budget continues to reflect that we support law enforcement,” said Sen. Shane Martin, R-Spartanburg.