Taxes and Spending
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Pricey projects on college budget wish lists
Recently, some of South Carolina’s top universities shared their fiscal year 2024-25 spending plans with the Senate’s higher education budget subcommittee. The requests included plenty of high-dollar projects that would be funded with taxpayers’ money. Below are a few highlights. -
Impact: Upstate county pushing conservative budget ordinance
Weeks after the Policy Council released its 2025 SC Sustainable Budget – a data-driven report aimed at reining in state government spending – an ambitious budget proposal was introduced to Upstate taxpayers. -
Lawmakers send pension protection bill to governor's desk
The S.C. Senate this week unanimously passed a bill (H.3690) to ensure that South Carolina’s pension funds are invested based on financial criteria to maximize shareholder value, not advance ESG (environmental, social, and governance) objectives. The bill, having passed the S.C. House last year in near-unanimous fashion, heads to Gov.... -
The need for spending relief: the 2025 SC Sustainable Budget
By Bryce Fiedler and Vance Ginn, Ph.D. Thanks to a robust state economy, plentiful business opportunities, and a relatively low cost of living, South Carolina remains one of the fastest-growing states in the nation. To maintain this strong position and promote further growth, it is crucial for S.C. legislators to... -
Important state budgetary law ignored once again
More than one hundred planning documents for next year’s state budget are missing important data required by South Carolina law. -
South Carolina needs more freedom, study shows
Update 7/3/24: WalletHub's 2024 edition of "Most & Least Independent States" shows South Carolina making progress in two key areas compared to last year. The state's government independence ranking improved from 43rd in 2023 to 39th in 2024, moving ahead of four states. Additionally, South Carolina made a significant leap... -
Fast facts: Why SC needs speedy tax relief
With the passage of South Carolina’s FY23-24 budget – which grows state government considerably and totals $41 billion in combined funds and $13.7 billion in state funds – it's time for a serious discussion on spending, tax reform, and keeping our state on the right track. -
Here's what’s in SC’s next budget (and how it can be better)
Update 6.23.23: The conference committee's budget document on the Statehouse website appears underrepresent the total "other funds" budget figure. Using figures from the state Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office, the overall budget is approximately $41 billion. After weeks of negotiations among House and Senate leaders, the General Assembly on Wednesday passed a... -
FY24 budget proposals: SC needs (and can afford) a bigger tax cut
By Bryce Fiedler and Vance Ginn, Ph.D. In January, the South Carolina Policy Council published The 2024 SC Sustainable Budget (SCSB) – an ambitious new project with the goal of keeping state government spending under control. Specifically, it urges legislators to keep annual recurring general funds appropriations from rising faster than state population growth... -
Issue update: How South Carolina can tackle ESG
The ESG movement threatens to impact taxpayers across the nation. How should SC respond?