S.C. House Approves 2 Percent Raise for State Employees

Advocates for state employees say a 2 percent cost-of-living raise in the House budget plan is helpful but not enough.

The South Carolina House voted 106-1 on Tuesday to designate an additional $17 million in its spending proposal to pay for raises beginning July 1. The plan advanced by the chamber's budget-writing committee provided 1 percent.

Ways and Means Chairman Brian White says the additional money is the best the House can do this year. It matches the cost-of-living increases the budget provides K-12 teachers.

Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter tried unsuccessfully to boost state employee raises to 3 percent or 2.5 percent.

Cobb-Hunter pointed to a state-funded report released in January that showed state workers are underpaid compared with their counterparts in other states and even local governments within South Carolina.