Berkeley County Council approves multiple funding requests, contract renewals and zoning ordinances

Berkeley County Council on Feb. 24 approved a package of budgetary requests, discretionary grants from accommodations-fee funds, two contract renewals for county software and equipment maintenance and multiple zoning ordinances following committee recommendations.

The council approved $20,000 for overtime in the coroner’s office, and approved $25,000 in supplemental personnel funding to cover salary and benefits for a three‑month transition period after the county assessor becomes the county auditor. The coroner had initially requested $30,000 for overtime during committee discussion; the council approved a smaller amount at final vote.

Why it matters: The actions allocate county resources for public‑safety staffing and community programs, commit county funds to multi‑year vendor arrangements for core systems, and adopt zoning changes that will affect property use in several council districts.

On personnel and staffing: Colonel Hartwell (Coroner) asked the council for overtime funding for deputy coroners. County staff member Milburn described the supplemental personnel request as a three‑month overlap for the assessor‑to‑auditor transition. Finance Committee Chairwoman Amy Stern moved the funding items on the committee recommendation and the motions carried by voice vote.

Accommodations‑fee discretionary funding: The council approved multiple AFE allocations from committee recommendations,…