2021 Statehouse Report # 11
Increased Reserves
$18.7 million in additional funding to the General Reserve Fund and $7.5 million to the Capital Reserve Fund.
An extra $500 million appropriated for a Pandemic Stabilization Reserve Fund.
These additions bring South Carolina’s total reserves to $1.1 billion.
Disaster Relief and Resilience Reserve Fund
$50 million to begin a statewide Disaster Relief and Resilience For Disaster relief assistance, Hazard mitigation, Infrastructure improvements, & Statewide resilience planning
Scholarship Reserves
$31.5 million for a Scholarship Trust Fund, a ‘rainy-day’ fund to cover scholarships in future years of potential lottery revenue shortfalls
State Employees & Employee Benefits
$5.9 million to fully cover the state employee health and dental insurance increases so employees will have no additional monthly premium cost.
Local Government
$17.6 million to fully fund the Local Government Fund including the FY 19-20 appropriation.
Disaster Recovery
$12.7 million for the FEMA state match for Hurricane Dorian.
Broadband
$30 million to continue statewide broadband efforts
Public Education
$50 million to increase the Base Student Cost to $2,500.
$48 million for instructional materials.
$5.5 million to fund a full-time nurse in every school.
$10 million for full-day 4K through First Steps (33% increase, adding an additional 600 children)
$15 million recurring and $9.5 million non-recurring for public charter school growth.
$2 million increase for School Resource Officers
Higher Education
Colleges and Universities: $150 million in non-recurring for maintenance, renovations, and capital needs at colleges.
Technical Colleges: $10 million for maintenance and capital needs.
$2.5 million for the “ReadySC” job training program, which provides customized training for new and expanding businesses and industries.
Scholarships and Tuition Aid
$318 million to fully fund LIFE, HOPE, and Palmetto Fellows Scholarships through the Lottery for the 6th year in a row.
$51 million in the Lottery for Tuition Assistance (LTAP)
$60 million for Needs-Based Grants which goes to help the most in need college students ($40 million increase)
$20 million for Tuition Grants ($10 million increase)
Department of Commerce
$3.7 million for the Deal Closing Fund to continue recruiting new jobs and industry.
Forestry Commission
$1 million for firefighting equipment.
Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism
$15 million for Destination Specific Marketing.
$5 million for tourism advertising grants. This is advertising that attracts and retains out-of-state dollars to multiple areas of the state.
$1.1 million for the South Carolina Association of Tourism Regions.
Department of Corrections
$90 million in flexibility from CARES Act funds for institution upgrades for the safety of the public, officers, and inmates.
$4.7 million for law enforcement & correctional officers retention.
$2 million for medical staffing retention.
$4.5 million in funds for contract nursing.
Probation, Pardon, and Parole Services
$2 million for law enforcement retention.
$500,000 for the Mental Health Program.
This Program is aimed to 1) improve access to standardized screening and assessment tools; 2) create collaborative comprehensive case management plans that address identified needs, and 3) coordinate wraparound services that establish stability for offenders living with mental illness.
State Law Enforcement Division
$1.4 million for law enforcement STEP increases.
$250,000 for law enforcement PTSD needs
Department of Public Safety
$2 million for law enforcement STEP increases.
$750,000 for agency vehicle rotation.
$600,000 for communication equipment replacement.
Department of Natural Resources
$1.3 million for law enforcement STEP increases and overtime needs.
$1.6 million for Wildlife Management Areas.
Conservation Bank
$2 million in additional funds for Conservation Grants.
Transportation and Regulatory
$683,142 for funding of the State Broadband Office.
Department of Labor, Licensing & Regulation
$850,000 for Urban Search and Rescue. Funds will replace equipment that is now over 15 years old and communication technology that is no longer viable.
$250,000 for FAST Program/PTSDTreatment for firefighters through State Fire.
$3.7 million for Firefighter Cancer Healthcare Benefits Plan in accordance with Act 168 of 2020.
Election Commission
$1.4 million for state matching funds for 2020 Help America Vote Act Grants.
The pandemic complicated and challenged this budget in many ways, so I extend my gratitude to the Ways and Means Committee and staff for all their hard work and dedication. Once we have a better understanding of what the state tax revenue looks like for this year, I will update you on how that money will be used.
Looking Ahead
Next week is a furlough week. This gives us a week off - time to be back in our districts, regroup and refocus after an intense 11 weeks of session. Furloughing next week saves South Carolina taxpayers over $50,000. The week after, we will be back to work - business as usual.