South Carolina House Bill H4099

South Carolina 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/26/25
• Refer: 2/26/25

Caption

Annual Salary Supplements for Certain County Officers

Impact

If enacted, the bill will significantly alter the process of how salary supplements are calculated and distributed to county officers. By centralizing the authority under the Office of the Comptroller General, the bill intends to streamline administration and ensure consistent payments across different counties. This could lead to a more uniform salary supplement system for county officers, potentially eliminating discrepancies caused by local variations in compensation practices. Moreover, it may enhance accountability for how funds are managed and utilized at the county level.

Summary

House Bill 4099 aims to amend Section 8-15-65 of the South Carolina Code of Laws, which relates to annual salary supplements for certain county officers, including clerks of court, probate judges, sheriffs, registers of deeds, auditors, and treasurers. The proposed amendment seeks to remove the requirement for salary and related employer contributions to be included in the calculation of the salary supplement amount. Instead, it mandates that the Office of the Comptroller General will be responsible for administering the appropriated amounts according to the newly defined structure.

Contention

Notably, the bill may face contention regarding the implications of reducing local control over salary supplements. Critics may argue that the new structure limits the ability of counties to make adjustments based on their specific financial situations or operational requirements. There could be concerns about whether the Comptroller General's office will be equipped to handle the increased responsibilities efficiently. Additionally, some stakeholders might view the changes as a potential financial burden if appropriations do not adequately cover the actual costs incurred by counties, especially if their budgets are already tight.