SC state employees would get bigger pay raise in new Senate plan. Here’s how much

State employees would see a larger raise under the Senate Finance spending plan than they would under the House budget proposal.

The 23-member Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday approved spending $82.5 million state employee raises.

The Senate Finance version of a $13.8 billion spending plan for the fiscal year that begins July 1, now goes to the full Senate, which is scheduled to debate the budget April 23-25. The full Senate still needs to approve the budget, before it returns to the House for its second consideration.

Under the Senate Finance Committee plan, any state employee earning $50,000 or less would receive a $1,375 raise. Those earning more than $50,000 a year would receive a 2.75% pay increase.

The amount of money spent on state employee raises is more than double than the $41.1 million in the House budget, which proposed giving a $1,000 raise to any state employee earning $66,667 or less. Anyone earning more than $66,667 would receive a 1.5% raise.

Last year, the Senate also proposed a larger pay raise than the House. The two chambers agreed on the Senate plan.

Like the House budget, senators are looking to cover the increase cost of health care premiums for those on the state health plan at a cost of $107.5 million. The state health plan cover state employees, retired state employees and teachers.

“We are providing the funding that is necessary to take care of the employee as well as the employer and retirees’ portion of the state health plan,” said state Senate President Thomas Alexander.