Columbia, S.C. – The South Carolina House of Representatives has unveiled a new budget proposal for the 2025-26 fiscal year, which includes an increase in teacher salaries. However, the proposal falls short of Governor Henry McMaster’s goal of raising the minimum starting salary to $50,000.
Under the House Ways and Means Committee’s proposal, the starting salary for teachers would increase from $47,000 to $48,500—a $1,500 raise. While this represents a significant investment in education, it does not fully meet the governor’s request, which aimed for a more ambitious salary increase.
The governor’s original plan sought to bring South Carolina’s starting teacher salary to $50,000, an adjustment that would require at least $200 million annually. Education leaders and policymakers have expressed mixed reactions to the current proposal, with some praising the increase while others emphasize the need for additional funding to attract and retain quality educators.
Governor McMaster’s Push for Higher Teacher Salaries
One of Governor Henry McMaster’s top priorities in this year’s legislative session has been to increase the starting teacher salary to $50,000. His budget proposal outlined a plan to achieve this goal, which he believes is necessary to make South Carolina’s education system more competitive.
However, the budget proposal introduced by the House Ways and Means Committee falls short of this target. Instead, it suggests a $1,500 increase, bringing the starting salary to $48,500.
Despite this, Patrick Kelly, with the Palmetto State Teachers Association, highlighted that the proposed increase still represents the largest area of recurring spending growth in the state budget. Kelly acknowledged the committee’s investment in teachers but emphasized the importance of meeting the $50,000 target by 2026.
“This $1,500 increase still represents the single largest area of growth in recurring spending in this state budget,” Kelly stated. “But failure to deliver on the $50,000 minimum pay by 2026 could cause disappointment and frustration among educators.”
Governor McMaster’s office released a statement expressing disappointment that the budget proposal did not include his full recommendation.
“The Governor is disappointed that the Ways and Means budget did not fund his proposal to raise starting teacher pay to $50,000,” a spokesman for the governor said. “He will continue working with the General Assembly to get this funding included in the budget this year.”
Challenges in Funding the Full Increase
While education funding remains a top priority, some lawmakers argue that the state must balance multiple financial obligations.
Rep. Neal Collins (R – District 5), a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, explained that limited funds and competing priorities made it difficult to allocate the full increase this year.
“I also have to be a realist,” Rep. Collins stated, “We have other priorities in our state—Hurricane Helene recovery being one of them.”
With state resources stretched across different sectors, legislators had to make difficult decisions regarding budget allocations. While many lawmakers support increasing teacher salaries, they must also consider infrastructure, emergency response, and other critical state needs.
The budget process is not yet finalized, and the proposal will continue to move through the House and Senate. Changes could still be made before the final budget is approved.
What’s Next for the Budget Proposal?
Since the budget is still in its early stages, there is room for adjustments as lawmakers negotiate funding priorities.
- The proposal will go through further review in the House and Senate before becoming law.
- Education advocates and policymakers will continue to push for higher salaries to ensure that South Carolina remains competitive in teacher recruitment and retention.
- The final decision on the starting teacher salary may not be made for several more months, as discussions and revisions continue.
Despite not fully meeting Governor McMaster’s request, the proposed increase in teacher salaries marks progress toward improving educator compensation in South Carolina. Teachers, parents, and education leaders will be watching closely as lawmakers finalize the state budget in the coming months.
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