Senate to take up budget today

The S.C. Senate will take up a $7 billion spending plan that has been pared back by $90 million over the past month.

Sliding revenue estimates have forced lawmakers to pull back on spending after cutting most state agencies by between 2.5 and 5 percent.

Last week, the Senate Finance Committee held a special meeting after government revenue forecasters predicted tax collections would soften.

The committee decided not to give state workers a pay raise, saving the state $40 million.

This week the Senate will debate the voluminous budget and determine if cuts are needed elsewhere or if some cuts proposed in committee can be restored.

Comments

[Diana]

It's sad that hardworking state workers will not receive an increase in pay but I bet other social programs stay alive that pay people for doing nothing (such as welfare). The cost of living has increased making state workers able to buy less, thus worth less without a pay increase.
Sad. Real sad.

[Bill C.]

What will be interesting to see is how much pork is left in the budget. How many festivals will the state be paying for, how many trips to "conferences" will legislators be making, how much more construction will be made to make the state house that much more terrorist-resistant.