COLUMBIA, S.C. (WSPA) – Governor Henry McMaster is discussing South Carolina’s new $14 billion state budget. Although he made some adjustments, he’s generally approving of it.
“It’s a good budget. It’s one of the best, and that’s why I’ve only got a handful of vetoes, and I don’t think any of them, maybe one or two involve money,” said Governor McMaster.
The final budget incorporates 80% of what McMaster initially proposed. He issued just 11 vetoes, including one that blocked a plan allowing low-income, rural schools to hire school police through private companies.
The governor said school safety should be handled by official Law Enforcement, not private contractors.
“All the training is required. That’s where those resource officers must come from. They must be qualified to be a deputy sheriff or a sheriff,” he added.
The budget also includes teacher pay raises, funding to put a school resource officer in every school, and an income tax cut. And after years of pushing to eliminate earmarks, which fund individual community projects, the Governor said this year’s budget finally reflects that transparency.
“Every dime needs to be open. Citizens need to know where it’s going, who proposed it, who’s going to be spending it, and what it’s expected to do. If we’re not doing that then we’re not doing our job. “
Senator Harvey Peeler (R – Cherokee), Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, said last week that getting rid of earmarks was crucial in this year’s budget.
“It was almost like in the House, it seemed like they funded earmarks and what’s left they funded the budget. Just take them out. It was almost that bad here, so we’ve had a stop,” Peeler said.
Lawmakers could return to override any of the governor’s vetoes with a 2/3 majority vote, but regardless of majority the budget goes into effect July 1st.
