County employees will be getting a little something extra in their paychecks during the next fiscal year.

The Cherokee County Council Budget Committee unanimously approved Monday a recommendation from Interim Administrator Ben Clary to fund a pay raise for county employees and $50,000 in matching funds for a water project.

Clary told council it could use the $151,000 settlement with Charter Communications and the $300,000 from the sale of property to Upstate Carolina Medical Center to fund capital expenditures.

Those funds previously earmarked for capital expenditures would then be used to fund the 3 percent cost-of-living raise and water project. The remaining balance would go into a contingency fund. The news wasn't as good for

the Literacy Association or The Cherokee Historical and Preservation Society (CHAPS).

Council denied the Literacy Association's request for .8 mills or $118,000 and CHAPS' request for $25,000.

The Literacy Association presently receives a $7,000 appropriation from the county. CHAPS receives no funding from the county.

Council authorized Clary to finalize the $17,620,463 spending draft he presented nearly two weeks ago.