SC lawmakers agree to budget with 3.25 percent pay increase

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) – Legislators have agreed to a budget that increases state employees’ pay by 3.25 percent, puts $30 million into replenishing sand on South Carolina’s beaches and provides local governments an additional $11 million.

Those were among the compromises Saturday by legislators negotiating a final budget package.

Carlton Washington with the State Employees Association says the cost-of-living raise will deflate employees. It was a compromise between 2 percent in the House’s plan and 4 percent in the Senate plan.

The agreement intends for $200 million to be used to borrow $2 billion for highway construction over 10 years. But the borrowing depends on legislators passing a separate bill that also makes governance changes at the Department of Transportation.

The compromise also distributes an additional $50 million to counties for local roadwork