Budget Priorities: Education, Infrastructure, Public Safety, and Workforce Development
S.C. Rep. Blake Sanders
Budget week at the South Carolina House of Representatives is behind us, and the state budget now moves to the South Carolina Senate for its consideration. For me, these past two years have been an eye-opening crash course in how our state budget truly works, from agency requests and committee deliberations to the detailed line items that ultimately determine how taxpayer dollars are spent.
The state budget is a massive document that touches nearly every aspect of life in South Carolina. While the final vote is often portrayed as a simple “yes” or “no,” the reality is far more nuanced. Lawmakers frequently vote for or against individual sections and amendments during the 48 to 72 hour marathon of votes, while still supporting the overall budget. That’s because governing requires weighing priorities, making compromises, and ensuring that the final product moves our state forward.
This year, I wanted to share a transparent look at some of those decisions. For a little fun—and a little insight, I’m calling it “The Nines” for District 9: nine things I voted against and nine things I voted for during the budget process.
Nine “No” Votes
These were proposals or provisions that I felt either missed the mark on priorities, lacked clarity, or deserved more scrutiny:
1. Keeping S.C. Interim Director of Public Health Dr. Steven Skinner’s salary at $258,959
2. Requiring 25 percent of CTC funds to go to state roads in FY 2026–2027
3. Increasing judges’ salaries
4. Allocating $32 million for the Captain Sam’s Spit settlement
5. $1.6 million in recurring funds for the Sea Grant Consortium
6. Additional operating expenses that were not clearly outlined
7. Reducing funding for the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources
8. Reducing funding for South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism
9. A proposal for Scout Motors to receive $150 million in non-recurring revenue (which ultimately was not included in the final budget)
Nine “Yes” Votes
At the same time, there were many priorities I was proud to support because they invest in our communities, workforce, and quality of life:
1. A teacher pay increase
2. Allowing police officers to return to work after retirement
3. $62 million for land conservation and farm preservation
4. An income tax reduction
5. $75 million in rural and charter school capital funding
6. Support for SCWINS Scholarships to strengthen our workforce
7. $100 million in CTC acceleration for infrastructure
8. $25 million in South Carolina Department of Transportation buyback funding
9. $96 million in aid to local fire districts
Budgeting Is About Priorities
No budget is perfect, and the legislative process requires balancing competing needs across a growing state. Some provisions I supported. Others I opposed. But throughout the process, my guiding principle remained the same; doing right by the people of District 9 and ensuring that South Carolina families see responsible stewardship of their tax dollars.
In the end, I voted in favor of the overall budget because it maintains a balanced approach while investing in critical areas like education, infrastructure, public safety, and workforce development. I respect every Representative’s vote and their responsibility to represent their constituents.
As the Senate now takes up the budget, I’ll continue working with colleagues in both chambers to ensure the final version reflects the priorities of our communities. That’s the goal of The Nines, not just to highlight votes, but to give District 9 a clearer window into how your state government works and how your voice is represented in Columbia.
Blake Sanders represents District 9 in the South Carolina House of Representatives.
