House committee approves $7 billion spending plan

The House Ways and Means committee this morning approved a $7 billion spending plan for the state for its fiscal year that starts July 1.

In addition, the committee laid out how it would spend the $124.5 capital reserve fund left over from last year.

Among the biggest expenses:

• $48.7 million to buy, maintain and operate state school buses.
• $10 million for tourism advertising
• $7 million for the state Commerce Department to help close deals with companies expanding in S.C.

The spending plan still has a long way to go before it becomes final. It must be approved by the full state House of Representatives and the state Senate; many changes could be made during that process. The plan then would go to Gov. Mark Sanford for his signature or veto.