South Carolina has $1 billion more to spend in 2019. How teachers, college students might benefit
COLUMBIA, SC -- S.C. lawmakers don’t return to Columbia until January, but the race for hundreds of millions of dollars in up-for-grabs money has already started.
Raising teacher pay, addressing the state’s underfunded pension system and replacing old voting machines are three top contenders, as state agencies and special interest groups try to win over lawmakers for their causes.
But even while the state appears flush with money, lawmakers aren’t free to spend all $1 billion in new state money, House budget chief Brian White said. Of that amount, only $546 million is one-time money, which lawmakers note can’t be spent on yearly costs, like employee pay.
The state still must pay for necessary costs like the REAL ID update, Medicaid and Hurricane Florence recovery, the Anderson Republican said on Monday.
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