Myrtle Beach is handing out $3 million worth of bonuses. Here’s what we know.

Myrtle Beach will pay out more than $3 million in year-end bonuses to city staff as compensation for working through a personnel shortage.

The checks — between $3,000 and $5,000 each for 825 full-time workers and $500 to its 125 part-timers, will be mailed in January at a total cost of $3.2 million from savings that came from open positions.

The city budgeted 992 full-time employees for the current fiscal year that began July 1, leaving it with nearly $6 million savings from unfilled spots.

Budget chief Michelle Shumpert proposed last month using about half of that money to reward employees that have picked up added responsibilities.

“Our existing staff had to work that much harder to continue to provide the first in services that we here at the city of Myrtle Beach demand,” Shumpert told the City Council Dec. 6 in asking for a budget amendment to authorize the bonuses - an ask that was granted.

Vacancies are highest in the police department, which has 71 openings out of 348 positions — a 20% shortfall.