24 April 2026
Yesterday the SC Senate passed their version 2026-2027 state budget, which includes a $500,000 one-time increase to statewide arts funding.
Background
The House adopted their version of the budget last month with $250,000 in new, recurring statewide arts funding.
What’s New
The full SC Senate adopted their version of the state’s budget on April 23. That budget included the recommendations made by the Senate Finance Committee, which included $500,000 in nonrecurring (one-time funds) for operating support grants and creative workforce programs at the South Carolina Arts Commission. The Senate also funded the agency’s request for a $100,000 shared services (administrative) increase.
- Section 28 (Arts Commission) passed by a vote of 37 – 7
- The full budget bill passed by a vote of 42 – 2
Also notable in the budget:
- Legislator directed (earmarked) funding is back this year — the House will have a chance to include theirs when the budget returns to their chamber.
- Both versions of the budget raise the minimum starting teacher salary to $50,500
- Both versions lower the state income tax rate from 6 to 5.21%
What’s Next
The Senate version heads back to the House who will replace the bill with their version, or “H2”. The budget will then go to Conference Committee (3 Senators, 3 House Representatives) to work out the differences between the two versions. The final version of the budget may reflect House arts funding, Senate arts funding, or a somewhere in the middle.
