SC Senate to begin debate on $7 billion spending plan

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The South Carolina Senate is expected to spend the week debating its $7 billion spending plan for state taxes.

The Senate came in Monday to get a head start. The normal legislative week is Tuesday through Thursday.

Senate Finance’s budget proposal for the fiscal year that starts July 1 includes $8.5 million to hire 262 employees at the embattled Department of Social Services, matching the new director’s budget request. The vast majority of the new hires would be caseworkers and their assistants.

Like the House budget plan, the Senate proposal also puts about $100 million additional into K-12 schools to increase the so-called base student cost.

A Senate Finance proposal to borrow $236 million for construction at colleges and National Guard armories is separate from the budget.