It’s hard to believe that $1 billion in your tax money could cause a problem.

But state lawmakers must decide how to spend an expected $1 billion surplus or return money to taxpayers.

That is 1 of the top 3 issues Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey anticipates in the 2020 legislative session.

About $815 million is recurring money that lawmakers can expect to have again in future years.

It could go to the governor’s proposed $3,000 teacher pay raise and $200 million taxpayers’ rebate plus underfunded state pensions.

The rest is what lawmakers call “1-time” money that they may not see again.

Sen. Massey told the West Metro Rotary Club that he sees 2 other concerns that will dominate debate in the Senate next year.

• Education reforms.

These are outlined in a 60-page bill addressing such issues as mental health problems and school safety.

The reforms are to improve the system to make it easier for teachers to teach and students to learn.

• Taxpayer-owned Santee Cooper power company that is $8 billion in debt.

Lawmakers are waiting for a $15 million evaluation of options. These include selling the system, hiring someone to manage it or accepting a plan the Santee Cooper board has promised.

“We won’t know which is the best option until we see it,” Sen. Massey said.