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Berkeley County Health Department asks commission for $140,000 to shore up staffing after state funding drop
Summary
The Berkeley County and Morgan County Health Department asked the county commission for $140,000 for fiscal 2026 to shore up staff pay and retain positions after a significant reduction in funds; directors said personnel shortages and reliance on short-term grants threaten services including immunizations and emergency preparedness.
Berkeley County commissioners heard a fiscal-year 2026 funding request from the combined Berkeley County–Morgan County Health Department on Jan. 14, when department leaders described staff shortages, a building expansion and a recent loss of county-provided funds.
Director Kara Hardy introduced herself and outlined operations and staffing challenges at the start of the department’s presentation. Bill Kearns, the department’s CFO, told commissioners the health department is seeking a $140,000 increase in county support for fiscal 2026 to help recruit and retain staff.
The request follows what Kearns described as a “$20,200,000 reduction in our funds that the commission provides,” a cut the department said sharply reduces its surplus and increases reliance on grants. Kearns said the…
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