In Focus South Carolina: State Budget

mynews13.com · September 6, 2026

# In Focus South Carolina: State Budget

Published: 2026-09-06T10:00:00-04:00 Source: mynews13.com (mynews13.com) Language: en

## Story

In Focus South Carolina: State Budget

Open in Our App

Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Learn More

---

Open in Spectrum News App

Continue in Browser

WEATHERThe active pattern remains across Florida through this week

TRACKING THE TROPICSHawaii bracing for Lowell impacts, Atlantic stays quiet

DOWNLOAD THE APPStay informed throughout your day with the Spectrum News app, available on all your favorite devices.

WEATHER ALERTView full list of active weather alerts

On this edition of In Focus South Carolina, we are taking a closer look at the State’s new $15 billion dollar budget. (AP graphic/File)

SUMMARY

On this edition of In Focus South Carolina, we are taking a closer look at the State’s new $15 billion budget. Our guests, House Ways and Means Chairman Bruce Bannister and Senate Minority Leader Brad Hutto discuss funding priorities, including teacher pay, income-tax relief, education, infrastructure and community projects.

PART ONE

Representative Bruce Bannister is our first guest. He says he is proud of the new fiscal plan and how it maintains the state’s commitment to public education. It increases the starting salary for teachers to $50,500 dollars. The Representative also talks about assistance aimed at helping students attend the state’s technical colleges. The State budget allocates $200 million for needed road and bridge repairs. Something the representative says is important for the state's economy.

PART TWO

Brad Hutto is the Minority Leader in the State Senate. He is a member of the Senate Constitutional Budget Subcommittee, and the Finance committee, and was part of budget negotiations. The Senator talked about the new fiscal plan, including the reduction in Income tax from 6% to 5.2 Percent. There’s also an increase in the homestead exemption for Senior Citizens, and a 2% pay raise for state employees. Senator Hutto also discusses how the budget will impact schools and the state's work force.

Read the full story at mynews13.com