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.
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.
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.
South Carolina: Latest from the State House
Members of the ultra-conservative Freedom Caucus proposed more than 100 amendments to the budget, but many were withdrawn and none were adopted.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.
"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.