South Carolina Senate to weigh House-approved $13.2 billion budget

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina’s $13.2 billion budget made it through the House largely unchanged as Republican leaders reigned in efforts to shift spending priorities to other places.

The House gave the 2024-25 fiscal year budget approval Wednesday to cheers and proclamations that the budget staff get the rest of the week off.

It now moves over to the Senate. The Finance Committee and the floor will give it heavy scrutiny on into April. Last year, the House and Senate spending plans appeared to basically be in harmony before a three-week standoff over roughly $100 million to start a veterinary school at Clemson University.

House Ways and Means Chairman Bruce Bannister said he figures the Senate will have some differences this year too, but he’s not willing to predict where.

“We will have a conference committee. I suspect it will be as intense as it was last year,” the Republican from Greenville said after Wednesday’s final vote.

The House plan includes raises for teachers and state employees, $500 million in property tax relief, $200 million for bridges and $100 million to continue long-term income tax cuts.

<bsp-list-loadmore data-module="" class=«PageListStandardB» data-gtm-region=«READ MORE» data-gtm-topic=«No Value» data-show-loadmore=«true» data-gtm-modulestyle=«List B»> <bsp-custom-headline custom-headline=«div»> READ MORE </bsp-custom-headline> <bsp-custom-headline custom-headline=«div»> Republican senators reveal their version of Kentucky’s next two-year budget </bsp-custom-headline> <bsp-custom-headline custom-headline=«div»> New York’s budget season starts with friction over taxes and education funding </bsp-custom-headline> <bsp-custom-headline custom-headline=«div»> South Carolina House passes state’s $13B