SC legislators must work quickly to meet payroll

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The weeks-long deadlock on South Carolina’s budget means lawmakers must work quickly to ensure state employees get paid on time.

The budget compromise agreed to by House and Senate negotiators late Tuesday will not be in place when the fiscal year starts Sunday. That’s because each chamber must approve the compromise and give Gov. Nikki Haley five days to issue vetoes.

The Legislature plans to send the governor a continuing resolution that bridges the gap, preventing a government shutdown. The Senate is expected to amend the resolution Thursday morning and return it to the House for agreement before it heads to the governor’s desk.

Treasurer Curtis Loftis and Comptroller General Richard Eckstrom say Haley must sign it by Thursday afternoon for employees to get their paychecks as scheduled Monday.