INDIAN LAND, S.C. — Governor Henry McMaster held a news conference Thursday in Indian Land on proposed pay raises for South Carolina law enforcement.
The governor was with law enforcement officers, members of the General Assembly, and Department of Administration officials at the morning news conference.
>>Watch the video at the top of this webpage for reporter Tina Terry’s coverage of McMaster’s proposal.
The Department of Administration’s Division of State Human Resources (DSHR) recommended the pay raises and they have been included in the S.C. House Ways and Means budget proposal. On Jan. 3, McMaster requested the DSHR analyze state law enforcement officers’ compensation.
[ ALSO READ: SC House’s $14 billion budget provides raises for almost all ]
The analysis found the number of applicants for police jobs is down by 25.6% and nearly 40% of officers have left state government between July 2017 and June 2021.
Channel 9 reporter Tina Terry is told about $38 million would go toward pay raises in the Ways and Means committee budget.
Later on Thursday, McMaster went to Indian Land to talk before the Greater Indian Land Chamber of Commerce. At noon, he talked about budget proposals to use American Rescue Fund dollars for greater investment in roads and bridges. Many of those proposed improvements will impact roads in the area of Lancaster, Chester, Chesterfield and York counties.
After that, McMaster was part of a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Indian Land as part of an economic development announcement. The ceremony was held at CrossRidge One on World Reach Drive at a 200,000 square foot facility.
(WATCH BELOW: Local law enforcement feeling the sting of staffing shortages)
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