There is a quickly dwindling likelihood that South Carolina will begin the new fiscal year on July 1 with a state budget.
This reality is leaving both state and local lawmakers with more questions than answers as the S.C. Legislature tries to reach a compromise on how best to use state dollars.
A conference committee of Senate and House budget writers, including two legislators who represent Aiken County, left the Statehouse on Monday without reaching a compromise on the state's roughly $7 billion budget.
That means it's becoming increasingly unlikely that the committee will have a budget to present June 16 when the full General Assembly returns for a special three-day session, which is taking place 12 days after the Legislature adjourned June 4.
It's this lack of a resolution on the budget that will, by most indications, force the state to operate off a continuing resolution, which sets funding at the same levels they were last year, according to legislators.
S.C. Sen. Nikki Setzler, D-Lexington, who represents parts of Aiken County and serves on the conference committee, said the way the budget process has unfolded this year has put the state in an "unusual" position.
There are actually multiple bills that impact the state's budget this year, Setzler said, particularly pointing out approximately $400 million in so-called surplus money that the state took in above projected revenues for this year.
Disagreements over these dollars were sparked when the S.C. House and S.C. Senate passed different versions of the state's main budget - also known as the general appropriations bill - before the General Assembly adjourned.
As a result of these disagreements, the General Assembly is set to return twice over the next few weeks in order to work out a compromise on the budget plan, as well as take up any vetoes by S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley, a Republican.
The Senate included this so-called surplus money in its version of the state budget for a one-time $800 bonus for state employees; to cover 2014 ice storm-related damages, including Aiken County; and funding for roads and bridges.
The House, however, dealt with the extra funds separately from the main budget bill through what's known as a supplemental appropriations bill.
Setzler indicated that this method employed by the House made it "impossible" for members of the budget conference committee to handle these related pools of money as one, comprehensive bill.
Haley, in a visit to the North Augusta Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday, said she felt this was not a responsible approach to the budget process.
"What they should do is pass their budget and pass the surplus budget later. I don't mind if they wait until January to pass that. I want you to be smart with it," Haley said, referring to the Legislature.
The General Assembly's failure to pass a budget before adjournment has left local lawmakers, particularly Aiken County Council members, with unanswered questions as they move forward with their own budget processes.
The potential lack of storm relief funding, in particular, prompted Aiken County administration to recommend a millage rate increase, which would increase property taxes and create additional revenue for the County.
County Council Chairman Ronnie Young said that while the County's budget is set to be approved by June 30 - ahead of the start of the next fiscal year - the County's millage rate isn't set until September.
"We have a little room to play with until we make a move on what we're going to do," Young said. "The (County) budget will be passed before the end of the month, but it is pending on what they do up there. Who knows what Columbia will do?"
He added he felt the General Assembly, as a whole, and not those representing Aiken County, didn't seem to want to fulfill their "obligations" as they make these decisions at the Statehouse in Columbia.
Michael Ulmer is a North Augusta native and the opinions page editor for the Aiken Standard. Follow him on Twitter @MikeUlmer.