COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The South Carolina Supreme Court ruled state lawmakers improperly gave themselves a $1,500 a month raise in a ruling that also will end up cutting the pay of legislators by thousands of dollars.

The justices ruled unanimously Wednesday that the money that is called “in-district compensation” counts as salary and therefore the increase can’t start until General Assembly faces election again at the end of 2026. The budget item earlier this year made the raise immediate.

It also tied the raise to the $1,000 that all 46 senators and 124 House members receive for their expenses meaning until the General Assembly can pass another proposal, their paychecks will drop by $1,000 a month.

The suit was brought by a Republican senator who voted against the proposal along with o

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