SC Senate budget deal includes $800 bonus for state workers

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The Senate has approved South Carolina’s $7 billion budget after reaching an agreement that gives most state employees an $800 bonus.

Senators reached the deal Thursday evening by a 42-3 vote after taking a two-hour recess. The sticking point was how to spend extra revenue the state is expecting.

The deal will spend $23.5 million on the bonuses for state employees who make less than $100,000. Then $4 million would be sent to counties for 2014 ice storm damage. Nearly all the remaining extra money will go to counties for state roads.

Exactly how much extra money will go into the budget depends on what the Board of Economic Advisors finds when it meets on May 21.