Taxes and Spending

  • FY 27: Another year of big state spending?

    On Monday, S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster released his proposed state spending plan for fiscal year 2027, which starts July 1. 
    Sam Aaron

    Written by
    January 16, 2026

  • Where Does South Carolina Rank in Economic Freedom?

    South Carolina ranks 21st nationally with an overall score of 6.84 in the Economic Freedom of North America (EFNA) report published by the Fraser Institute. People have more economic freedom when they are allowed to make more of their own economic choices. Based on 2023 data, the ranking places the...
    Vance Ginn Ph.D.

    Written by
    January 16, 2026

  • The 2027 South Carolina Responsible Budget

    A Pro-Growth Framework for Responsible Spending, Surplus-Driven Tax Relief, and Long-Term Prosperity By Vance Ginn, PhD., and Sam Aaron   Introduction South Carolina enters Fiscal Year 2027 with strong economic momentum but growing fiscal risk. Payroll employment expanded by 3.1 percent year over year, while the unemployment rate edged up...
    Vance Ginn PhD. and Sam Aaron

    Written by
    November 12, 2025

  • Where SC’s gubernatorial candidates stand on judicial reform, taxes, and spending

    Recently, the South Carolina Policy Council sat down with several of the state’s gubernatorial candidates for in-depth policy discussions. While SCPC does not endorse candidates, we extended an invitation to all who have formally declared their candidacy.  Over the past several election cycles, one thing has become clear: Long-form, open...
    Sam Aaron

    Written by
    October 25, 2025

  • South Carolina's roads: Spending, quality, and safety in question

    South Carolina has long struggled to maintain adequate roads, and citizens are well aware of the issue. In 2017, public frustration over poor road conditions pushed the Legislature to approve the first gas-tax increase in 30 years. The revenue was intended to improve infrastructure and bring South Carolina’s road quality...
    Sam Aaron

    Written by
    October 03, 2025

  • South Carolina must learn from Kansas’ tax reform failures

    For years, critics have pointed to Kansas as a failed tax experiment—“cut taxes and calamity follows.” That’s a myth. The real problem wasn’t the tax cuts; it was the refusal to restrain spending. Kansas lowered income-tax rates in 2012 but let government outlays surge. By 2017, deficits ballooned, and lawmakers...
    Vance Ginn Ph.D.

    Written by
    September 25, 2025

  • South Carolina Ranks 18th for Business—Here’s How to Compete with the Top States

    North Carolina, Texas, and Florida are winning with pro-growth policies. South Carolina should follow their lead—and do more.   The CNBC Top States for Business 2025 rankings are out, and once again, the message is clear: economic freedom wins. North Carolina took the top spot, followed by Texas at number...
    Vance Ginn Ph.D.

    Written by
    July 17, 2025

  • How the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ affects South Carolina

    On July 4th, President Trump signed into law his budget bill, titled the “One Big Beautiful Bill” (OBBB).
    Sam Aaron

    Written by
    July 11, 2025

  • Beyond temporary fixes: Addressing earmark secrecy in South Carolina

    Update 7/2/2025: On June 25, 2025, Governor Henry McMaster signed an Executive Order requiring state agencies to disclose all official and unofficial funding requests from lawmakers to the Governor’s Office within 48 hours of the General Assembly ratifying the annual Appropriations Act. These reports are to be made public in...
    Brendan Connors

    Written by
    June 26, 2025

  • How to get real income tax relief in South Carolina

    An objective fact about South Carolina’s fiscal trajectory is that the state general fund has nearly tripled in the last 25 years. Because the state constitution mandates a balanced budget, this growth means tax revenue has climbed in step with spending. 
    Sam Aaron

    Written by
    June 20, 2025