S.C. House passes budget with billions for tax cuts, bridge fixes, teacher pay

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) - Billions of dollars in taxpayer money could go toward tax cuts, road improvements, and pay raises for teachers in the next year in South Carolina.

Just minutes past midnight Wednesday, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed its $14 billion spending plan after two long days and nights of debate, the first of a few major budget debates that will happen at the State House in the coming months.

“The budget represents a commitment to the hardworking taxpayers of South Carolina, a commitment to the investment in the future of our state, conservatively and responsibly,” Rep. Bruce Bannister, R – Greenville and chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, said.

Early poll gives S.C. lieutenant governor edge in 2026 race

Extremely early polling shows South Carolina Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette with a slight lead among likely Republican voters in the state’s 2026 governor’s race.

The budget puts $200 million toward repairing aging bridges, with more money going toward road improvements.

State employees are slated for pay raises, while teachers’ minimum pay is bumped up $1,500 to $48,500.

MORE FROM NEWS 12

South Carolina: Latest from the State House

1. Groups to rally for ‘common sense gun laws’ at State House
2. Outside auditors testify again on S.C.’s $1.8B discrepancy
3. S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster to speak at South by Southwest Festival
4. SCDOT eyes law change that would impact how much EV drivers owe state
5. Change in S.C. law could expand options for kids in foster system
6. S.C. House passes liquor liability law, but tort reform effort stalls
7. New partnership aims to help human trafficking victims in South Carolina

That would be a nearly 80% increase from where the statewide starting salary was a decade ago.

“They’ve gone from $30,000 to almost $50,000,” Bannister said. “That is a huge difference for the teaching professionals in the state of South Carolina.”

The House budget cuts South Carolina’s top personal income tax rate from 6.2% to 6% a year ahead of schedule.

And it puts money toward South Carolina’s recovery from Hurricane Helene, including $50 million for the South Carolina Department of Transportation for debris removal and emergency road and bridge repairs.

S.C., Ga. attorneys general fight Chinese cyberspying through AI app

The attorneys general of 21 states including South Carolina and Georgia are urging Congress to ban the Chinese DeepSeek AI software from government devices.

Members of the ultra-conservative Freedom Caucus proposed more than 100 amendments to the budget, but many were withdrawn and none were adopted.

The Freedom Caucus said it was part of its “alternate budget” to cut wasteful spending.

“Can you say ‘no’ to the budget? Because I can because it’s chock full of crap,” Rep. April Cromer, R – Anderson and vice chair of the Freedom Caucus, said.

That set off House Majority Leader Davey Hiott, who railed against what he said was the Freedom Caucus making a farce of the House’s work to take care of the state and its people.

Local agencies aid during ‘ICE Storm’ blitz in South Carolina

While enforcing traffic laws, officers completed 1,250 traffic stops for violations. Fifty of those stops required officers to deploy K-9s.

“That’s all it is: It’s a show,” Hiott, R – Pickens, said. “Dadggumit, the state of South Carolina deserves better than what we’re seeing right now!”

It earned the Republican leader a bipartisan standing ovation ahead of the 99-13 bipartisan vote to pass the budget.

These expenditures are not final just yet.

The Senate is still taking testimony and crafting its version of the spending plan, and all the allocations will eventually be subject to the governor’s approval or veto.