A group of senators, including both Republicans and Democrats, came together this week to propose a significant SC Senate pay raise. They suggested raising the in-district portion of their expenses by $1,500 per month, which amounts to a 150% raise. The proposal, sponsored by state senators Shane Martin, Matt Leber, and Darrell Jackson, aims to implement this $18,000 annual salary raise in the forthcoming 2025-2026 budget.
Lawmakers are set to receive a yearly salary between $52,400 and $56,400, equating to over $1,000 daily excluding benefits, for their work during the January to May four-month period. These legislators can then work in the private sector, after May, earning even more the rest of the year.
Workers in South Carolina usually earn around $51,769 per year, equivalent to an average hourly wage of $23 for a 12-month position.
The increase was approved by a vote of 24–15, with over twelve “Republicans” voting together with Democrats to grant themselves more funds from public resources.
Understanding the SC Senate Pay Raise and Its Impact
In the South, residents of SC have the highest tax burden. The proposed 3.99% flat tax reform bill, pledged by both the Senate and the House, has been postponed for the rest of this legislative term and is expected to be abandoned, leaving SC residents paying some of the highest taxes in the South through 2026.
A recently unveiled fiscal impact report on the tax reform bill proposed jointly by the Senate and House of Representatives indicated that approximately 60% of South Carolina filers would experience an increase in their taxes under the new flat tax initiative.
Local News Via - MyrtleBeachSC.com
