Teachers, other state workers may see a raise

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Teachers and other South Carolina public employees may get their first raise in four years.

The House budget-writing committee on Wednesday approved increasing by $153 million a key education funding source that goes toward salaries for teachers and assistants. Teachers’ raises will differ by district, since some districts have managed to fund step increases through local taxes. All would receive at least a 2 percent raise under an approved budget clause.

The proposal would bring the so-called base student cost to $2,012 for 2012-13. That’s $132 more per student than this year.

The committee also approved a 2 percent raise for other state workers, costing $28 million.

Legislators set aside $180 million to deepen the Charleston harbor. That would fully fund the state match of the expected $300 million project.