Charleston County Council approved a staff request to allocate $1.5 million in capital funds to the downtown/main library renovation project, Library representative Lisa Craig told the council.

"Thank you for considering the request for $1,500,000 in capital funds for the main library," Craig said, adding that the referendum‑funded project had about $9.5 million in project funds but only $6.3 million budgeted for construction. Craig said the additional $1.5 million would help centralize the children’s and teen areas on the first floor, move adult collections to the second floor and upgrade auditorium and meeting room technology.

County finance staff said about half of the $1.5 million would be covered by shifting funds from a project in the 2024 bond package that did not require the full appropriation; other amounts would come from land purchase allocations that staff said may not be fully spent. "We did find 1 project out of the 2024 bond that didn't need the full amount," finance staff told council. Staff estimated the current construction estimate for the downtown renovation at roughly $7.8 million after the additional funds.

Councilmembers asked about technology upgrades, construction buffers on related projects and whether shifting funds would affect future land purchases. Craig and finance staff said the library planned auditorium and meeting room audiovisual upgrades and that the county retains funds for future land acquisition, but some land purchases might require additional funding in the future.

Council approved the allocation by voice vote; the clerk recorded the motion as moved and seconded and the chair as saying "ayes have it."