Beaufort County Audit Report Still Hiding in the Shadows
In the charming community of Beaufort County, residents are feeling a mix of curiosity and frustration as they wait for the long-awaited audit report on county spending and contracts to be made public. The report, generated due to allegations of “malfeasance” linked to former County Administrator Eric Greenway, has been tucked away, even after months of unanswered questions from taxpayers eager to know where their hard-earned money has gone.
Sheriff’s Confirmation and the Legal Bind
Beaufort County Sheriff P.J. Tanner has confirmed that he received the audit report back in August, following several persistent requests. He had hoped to share the findings with the public that same month, but a legal stipulation has put a damper on those plans. “We’ve been asked not to have any discussions about the content,” Tanner explained during a recent meeting. “I completely understand that, and I do not disagree with it, but the solicitor and I both felt that we should release it to the general public.” It looks like his hands are tied for now until a grand jury wraps up its work.
Delayed Transparency and Questions of Expertise
While Tanner’s determination to keep the public informed is commendable, it seems the county council initially dragged its feet on releasing this crucial audit. In fact, the council had to vote unanimously to release the report after Tanner’s requests were met with resistance. Tanner has passionately argued that the public funds used to hire an outside law firm to produce the report could have been better utilized if it had been made available months earlier.
The audit, conducted by the firm Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd, scrutinized various financial matters including contracts and purchases. One striking piece of information from the report is a six-page executive summary that stated, “there was no evidence of criminal activity.” However, Tanner raised eyebrows at this conclusion, questioning whether a firm focusing on municipal and civil litigation truly had the expertise to determine such a serious claim.
Guidance from the Attorney General’s Office
After the audit was handed over to the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office for review, Sheriff Tanner and the 14th Circuit Solicitor Duffie Stone found themselves in a tough place. They were instructed to refrain from releasing details or even discussing its contents until the grand jury had finished its investigation. Although they were prepared to share the findings with the public, the request from the Attorney General’s office took precedence.
The Waiting Game and Ethics Complaints
As the community twiddles its thumbs waiting for the grand jury’s findings, the audit report adds another layer to an already tangled web of controversies in Beaufort County. For nearly two years, county officials have been anticipating rulings from the state’s ethics commission concerning various accusations against members of the former administrative team.
In late October, former Parks and Recreation Director Shannon Loper received the first ruling, which confirmed two ethics violations leading to fines. This incident has raised the question of what might come next in the ongoing scrutiny of county officials. Adding to the drama, former County Attorney Brittany Ward recently resigned amid unrelated issues stemming from a profitable land sale involving her family’s property that sold to Beaufort County while she was still in office. Talk about a sticky situation!
A Growing List Of Complaints
The ethics commission currently has a staggering nine formal complaints against county officials, comprising several high-profile figures. These include:
- Three against former Parks and Recreation Director Shannon Loper
- Two against former Administrator Eric Greenway
- One against former Deputy Administrator Whitney Richland
- One against Special Assistant to the County Administrator Hank Amundson
- One against Assistant County Administrator for Infrastructure Jared Fralix (note: the case was dismissed September 13, though the ethics commission has not confirmed this)
- One against former Capital Improvement Projects Director Eric Larson
So far, the ethics commission has only ruled on a couple of complaints against Loper, leaving the public still on edge, desperate for transparency and closure regarding the ongoing issues. With so many scandals brewing, residents are wondering when they’ll finally receive the answers they crave.
As the grand jury moves forward with its review and the audit report remains locked away, the community can only sit back, stay tuned, and hope for some much-needed clarity in the near future.
