Senate Finance budget plan includes 4K expansion

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The Senate Finance Committee has approved a budget proposal that expands 4-year-old kindergarten and gives legislators a raise.

The committee voted 16-3 late Wednesday on a $7 billion spending plan for state taxes that provides legislators another $1,000 monthly for in-district travel expenses, doubling each legislator’s yearly stipend to $24,000. Senate Finance Chairman Hugh Leatherman says legislators haven’t had a raise since 1995, and it costs a lot more to travel around their districts.

Legislators’ annual salary is $10,400.

The budget provides an additional $24.5 million to expand full-day 4-year-old kindergarten to 14 more districts. The House’s budget plan has no expansion.

Senate Finance’s plan provides $4.5 million more for school buses than the House, for $17.5 million.

The full Senate is expected to start debating the proposal next week.