House rejects sending counties $10M for ice storm cleanup

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The South Carolina House has refused to give up to $10 million to 22 counties to cover part of their cleanup costs from last winter’s ice storm.

But reimbursements could still make it into the state budget.

Opponents said Wednesday the proposal threw the budget out of balance and reflected estimated, rather than actual, costs. But Republican leaders offered to work on a compromise.

The storm in February 2014 left up to an inch of ice across the state. The White House approved Gov. Nikki Haley’s request for federal disaster relief, allowing counties to be partially refunded by the federal government. Supporters say the state should help, too.

Haley asked legislative leaders last May to send affected counties $16 million, but that didn’t make it into the current budget.