South Carolina's public employees and retirees will pay more for their health care next year after all, despite legislators passing a budget that covered premium hikes.
/ MGN
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- South Carolina's public employees and retirees will pay more for their health care next year after all, despite legislators passing a budget that covered premium hikes.
The Budget and Control Board voted 3-2 Wednesday to split the cost of the increase between workers and their employers. Both will pay 4.6 percent more Jan. 1.
On average, agencies will pay an extra $19 monthly, while employees and retirees will pay $7 more.
The move bucks the budget. Legislators agreed to fully fund the public employees' premium increase, to ensure they saw raises in their take-home pay. That called for a 6.37 percent increase in contributions funded by taxpayers.
But Gov. Nikki Haley, Comptroller General Richard Eckstrom and Treasurer Curtis Loftis wanted the split. The panel's two legislative leaders voted against it.
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