Outside agencies brief committee on funding needs: transit, mental health, military support, small business and parks among requests

A group of outside agencies presented funding requests and program updates to the Finance Committee on May 19, asking county leaders to consider increased or continued support as federal and state funding streams change.

Palmetto Breeze Transit Director Brian Sullivan asked for a larger local match to cover increasing insurance, maintenance and fuel costs and to support planned capital for expanded service north of the Broad River; he said FY24 ridership in Beaufort County totaled about 168,725 passenger trips and warned service reductions would be required if local match is not met. Coastal Empire (community mental health) reported the loss and revocation of a SAMHSA grant totaling $225,000, and the agency requested county support to preserve its mobile crisis team and school-based counselors; Coastal said the agency now projects an operating budget near $9.4 million after grants were cut.

Other presentations included the Military Enhancement Committee (level funding $126,000 request) to support military-community workforce and housing initiatives; the Small Business Development Center asking for a modest increase to support two local staff; the Beaufort Conservation District seeking funds to sustain education and outreach and modest pay increases for part-time educators; Keep Beaufort County Beautiful outlining event and signage projects tied to a $50,000 county allocation; and Island Rec Center requesting continued or increased funding to support lifeguard pay, scholarships and year-round swim lessons (the center reported roughly 645,000 participant visits across programs). Committee members asked questions about overlap between economic development entities, local-match formulas for transit, grant dependencies for mental-health services and staffing retention for rec centers.