Senate Budget Includes Funds for 2014 Ice Storm Cleanup

The South Carolina Senate's $7.5 billion spending plan for the coming fiscal year would finish reimbursing counties' clean-up expenses from the 2014 ice storm

The plan tentatively approved Tuesday would distribute nearly $12 million to 22 counties.including Anderson County, Senate President Pro Tem Hugh Leatherman says the $4 million provided in the current budget covered just 25 percent of expenses not paid with federal emergency aid.

That $12 million is the first priority among $40 million in spending senators added Tuesday. The supplemental list will be funded if tax collections exceed current estimates.

The state's economic advisers will update their revenue forecast in two weeks.

Other added spending includes nearly $11 million to 48 school districts slated to receive less state money beginning July 1 due to decades-old funding formulas.