SC Gov. McMaster Vetoes 11 Budget Items, Upholds Majority Spending Plan

South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster has issued 11 vetoes on the state's $14 billion budget, approving about 80% of his original proposals and praising the budget as one of the best he has seen. Key initiatives in the budget include teacher pay raises, funding for school resource officers in every public school, and an income tax cut. McMaster vetoed provisions he deemed redundant, legally questionable, or unnecessary, including measures allowing nonprofits to use school activity buses and permitting some rural districts to hire private security instead of certified school resource officers. He emphasized that school safety must be maintained by qualified law enforcement rather than private contractors. Additionally, the governor declined to veto lawmakers' in-district expense reimbursement increases, acknowledging it was their decision and anticipating potential legal challenges. Lawmakers have the option to override the vetoes with a two-thirds majority, though overrides are not expected.