After receiving the House version of the budget in late March, on Thursday, April 12, the SC Senate passed their version of the State’s $8 billion budget. On the recommendation of the Senate Finance Committee, the Senate approved a $350,000 increase for the SC Arts Commission out of General Funds for grants, professional development, and rural outreach. Additionally, it approved a $100,000 increase for arts education through Education Improvement Act Partnership Funds for the SC Arts Commission for arts education.
A breakdown of arts funding during this process is below.
The budget now heads to a Conference Committee where the differences between the House and Senate versions will be reconciled. Both the House and Senate approved the $350,000 increase, but only the Senate approved the $100,000 increase for arts education – so stay tuned on ways to help ensure the Conference Committee adopts the Senate’s recommendation for arts education funding!
Arts Funding
GENERAL FUND
Grants / Professional Development / Rural Outreach
Requested by SC Arts Commission: +$500,000
—> House
Recommended by House Ways & Means Committee: +$350,000
Adopted by House (101-6): +$350,000
—> Senate
Recommended by Senate Finance: +$350,000
Adopted by Senate (44-0): +$350,000
—> Conference Committee Report
Recommended by Committee: TBD
Adopted by House: TBD
Adopted by Senate: TBD
EIA FUNDING (ARTS EDUCATION)
ABC Project / Rural Outreach / Arts & Technology
Requested by SC Arts Commission: +$1,000,000
Recommended by Education Oversight Committee: +$500,000
—> House
Recommended by House Ways & Means Committee: +$0
Adopted by House (111-0): +$0
—> Senate
Recommended by Senate Finance: +$100,000
Adopted by Senate (39-1): +$100,000
—> Conference Committee Report
Recommended by Committee: TBD
Adopted by House: TBD
Adopted by Senate: TBD
