Charleston’s new fiscal year budget is finalized after weeks of review, though not without debate inside council chambers, where a proposal to boost police pay fell short. Council member Shannon Snodgrass suggested shifting $32,000 from overtime to salaries to help close a pay gap with other departments, but the amendment was voted down over concerns about maintaining a tightly balanced budget. City officials, including Chief of Staff Matthew Sutton, said moving funds could create challenges elsewhere, while public commenters like Rich Goszka also pushed for higher officer pay. Mayor Amy Goodwin and Police Chief Scott Dempsey said they support officers and see this as a starting point for future raises, emphasizing the need to balance immediate costs with long-term financial responsibility. The new budget takes effect July 1.