Councils of governments request $2 million a year to fund staff who would support small local governments

Trish Hartung, executive director of the Upper Savannah Council of Governments, asked the Constitutional Subcommittee of the House Ways and Means Committee on Jan. 14 for a recurring three‑year appropriation of $2 million per year to place dedicated staff in South Carolina’s 10 councils of governments (COGs) to help small, under‑resourced local governments with routine administration.

"We are requesting $2,000,000 per year divided equally among the 10 councils of governments for an initial 3 year period," Hartung said, proposing a $200,000 annual allocation per COG that would fund one full‑time equivalent staff member (salary and benefits) in each council. Hartung said the funds would create a government services program to provide hands‑on assistance — including budgeting, grant…