Two Oconee Items Survive McMaster’s Budget Vetoes

South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster issued 73 vetoes to the state budget on Wednesday. The governor had called for more transparency from lawmakers in creating the budget, and signaled before the budget was finalized that lawmakers needed to supply more detailed information on each requested appropriation item as to how the money would be spent or face a line item veto. In a statement issued to members of the General Assembly, McMaster highlighted some 2022-23 budget wins, which include a big income tax cut…

The provisions also include raising the minimum starting salary for new public school teachers to $40 thousand a year; a 1% rate reduction over five years for all personal income tax brackets for the fourth year in a row; using federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds totaling over $2.4 billion to improve roads and interstates, address outdated rural water and sewer systems, and expand broadband internet service to all parts of the state; ending state income taxes on military veteran retirement pay; and providing $40 million in new dollars for recruitment and retention pay raises, salary adjustments and additional benefits for law enforcement positions at all state agencies.

Locally, $7 million dollars remains for a new Oconee County Senior Center, and $10 million for a fine arts center in Seneca’s Downtown District.