Governor Henry McMaster issued his line-item vetoes of the state budget this past Wednesday, signaling the final act of the legislative session, as it is unlikely the General Assembly will return to address the vetoes prior to January. The legislature is now adjourned for the remainder of the year, although committees are expected to meet in the interim, and we will keep you apprised of any activity.
On Wednesday, Governor Henry McMaster issued his Veto Message on his line-item vetoes on the FY24-25 General Appropriations Act H. 4025. McMaster vetoed just eleven items, noting the final budget “includes a record 80% of the governor’s executive budget proposals, including an income tax cut, full funding for an armed, certified, full-time school resource officer in every public school, teacher and law enforcement pay raises, a college tuition freeze, and key investments in conservation, infrastructure, and workforce development.”
The governor also announced plans for an executive order that will ensure public confidence and provide transparency and accountability on how taxpayer dollars are spent. The order requires all cabinet agencies and departments to request detailed information before distributing or administering appropriations if they lack sufficient or specific direction on how to do so in the budget. For the first time in years, the budget did not include earmarks in order to focus on members’ top priority – tax reform.
With just eleven vetoes, it is unlikely that the General Assembly will return to Columbia to address the vetoes before January. One item that had received considerable media attention, which many thought might be vetoed, was an increase in legislators’ “in-district expense” allocation, raising it from $1,000 to $2,500 monthly, basically giving every legislator an $18,000 annual pay raise. McMaster did not veto the increased allocation.
The $14.7 billion general fund budget includes nearly $1 billion in “new” recurring revenue and an estimated one-time budget surplus of about $2 billion. Nearly $500 million of the revenue remains unspent, which can possibly be used next year for additional tax relief or to fill gaps in the budget due to economic uncertainties. The total state budget, which includes general funds, federal funds, fines and fees is $41 billion.
To view the entire Veto Message, click here.
To view the budget spreadsheet, click here.
The budget takes effect on July 1 with the start of the fiscal year.
On Tuesday, voters elected a new House member to fill the vacated seat in House District 50, which covers parts of Sumter, Lee and Kershaw counties. Democrat Keishan Scott, a pastor and current member of Bishopville City Council, easily defeated his Republican opponent. At just 24 years of age, Scott now becomes the youngest member of the General Assembly.
The seat became vacant in January when former Rep. Will Wheeler abruptly resigned from office. Wheeler represented the district for eight years and had just won re-election in November 2024 after facing no opposition in the primary or general election.
The election does not change the Republicans’ supermajority advantage in the House, but it does restore the number of Democrats in the 124-member chamber to 36.
The General Assembly has adjourned for the year. We will keep you apprised of any activity.
