BEAUFORT, S.C.(Feb. 23, 2022) – City Council heard at its meeting Feb. 22 an amendment to the budget that would allocate $1.4 million in funds the City has received through the American Rescue Plan Act. Before making these recommendations, City Manager Bill Prokop sought input from department heads, the public and City Council itself.
At the meeting, Finance Director Alan Eisenman recommended an initial disbursement that includes:
- $330,000 for one-time $1,500 bonuses for essential employee emergency pay. Employees who worked full-time during the Governor’s State of Emergency, which extended from mid-March 2020 to early June 2021, will receive these bonuses. Part-time employees will receive $500. City Council members, judges, and department heads are exempt from these bonuses. The City will also use these funds to provide a $25 credit each pay period for every current employee’s health insurance costs.
- $325,000 for police car camera/video systems and $91,000 for police body cameras.
In addition, this disbursement will fund $165,000 for a bucket truck for the Public Works Department; $76,985 for cybersecurity IT enhancements; $40,425 firefighter/EMT training; $120,000 for cardiac monitors for fire trucks; and $185,000 contribution to USCB’s Center for the Arts.
The $1.4 million represents the first disbursement in ARP funds. The City will receive a total of approximately $6.7 million.
City Council expects to do a second and final reading on this at its March 8 meeting.
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