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Council approves one‑time payments for part‑time and temporary county employees
Summary
Charleston County Council approved one‑time payments for part‑time and temporary employees who were employed through fiscal year 2025, set at half the amount full‑time employees received; council also authorized up to $25,000 from contingency to cover any shortfall and discussed counts and payroll costs.
Charleston County Council approved one‑time payments to part‑time and temporary employees who were employed for all of fiscal year 2025, setting the award at half of the full‑time employee payment that had been issued earlier. The motion passed by voice vote after council discussed eligibility, counts and the potential budget impact; members agreed to provide up to $25,000 from council contingency if needed to cover shortfalls.
County staff explained eligibility would mirror the period used for full‑time employees: part‑time and temporary workers employed throughout fiscal year 2025 and still employed at the time of payment would receive half of the full‑time bonus. "If they were employed for all of fiscal year 25 and they are still currently employed, they're eligible for half of what the full time employees received," a county staff member said during the meeting.
Council and staff discussed the number of eligible employees and the cost. Staff provided an approximate eligible count and a total estimated cost; the figures discussed in the meeting were roughly 124 employees in this category and an estimated cost of about $124,000 before payroll taxes and employer contributions. Council agreed to use previously identified savings from full‑time bonus budget lines and to authorize up to $25,000 from council contingency to cover any remaining shortfall.
Members asked for greater specificity about definitions of part‑time and temporary status and for a final headcount prior to payout; staff committed to providing final numbers at the next meeting. One councilmember urged the decision as a retention measure to avoid turnover costs associated with recruiting and training replacements. The motion excluded elected officials and council members and did not change terms for contracted security staff; a councilmember noted the county’s security is contracted and that adjustments there are covered by the contract renewal process.
The council approved the payments by voice vote and instructed staff to return with final counts and exact cost figures.
