Officials destroy our faith in them

Posted 11/13/19

When Lexington County backers of Penny for Paving proposals wonder why voters turn it down, they can blame Richland County.

That county convinced voters to approve a similar plan, and it has …

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Officials destroy our faith in them

Posted

When Lexington County backers of Penny for Paving proposals wonder why voters turn it down, they can blame Richland County.
That county convinced voters to approve a similar plan, and it has turned into a nightmare.
Almost $40 million appears to have been misspent on boondoggles that have nothing to do with improving roads.
That’s apparently the finding of a secret audit no one is allowed to see except a few public officials who signed non-disclosure agreements. That’s $40 million in penny sales tax money from you and anyone else who bought anything in Richland County in the last 6 years.
So far only state Rep. Kirkman Finlay will talk about the Department of Revenue version of the penny tax audit he has seen. 
“The county may be on the hook for more than $40 million,” he told WLTX-TV.
 “The county may have to repay $40 million of money that has been expended. In other words, money has been expended from the penny for items that the penny is not able to do.” 
The penny tax was approved in 2012 to raise money to improve roads, transportation, the COMET bus system and infrastructure in Richland County. 
In 2015, the Department of Revenue told county officials they weren’t using the money properly. Specifically, the money was being used for 2 outside public relations firms and the county’s small business enterprise program that weren’t transportation-related.
Finlay called it a $40 million slush fund used “for things that are either inappropriate or you don’t want people to see.”
WLTX-TV reported a preliminary audit went to some county leaders last month, but it has not been made public, and county officials aren’t talking.
Such official misconduct destroys public faith in elected officials in Lexington County, too.
Finlay said he was concerned that the state may have to bail out Richland County officials.
That means our state tax dollars may be at stake. There is no honor among thieves.
JerryBellune@ yahoo.com 

opinion, officials, government

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