GREENVILLE COUNTY, S.C. (FOX Carolina) – A 2023 lawsuit against Greenville County and County Council is back in the spotlight, with state lawmakers and a public interest group claiming county tax dollars may have been used illegally.
The South Carolina Public Interest Foundation, along with several individuals including state Rep. Mike Burns, filed the lawsuit against the county in 2023. The suit challenges how the county adopts its budget and transfers funds.
What the lawsuit claims
The lawsuit claims it is illegal for the county to adopt two budgets for two fiscal years at the same time — a practice the county had used for decades. State law requires county councils to adopt budgets annually. According to the lawsuit, County Administrator Joe Kernell said Greenville was the only county in the state to use this practice.
Plaintiffs argue the two-year budget process limits council oversight, makes it harder to adjust to economic changes, and prevents the public from seeing how tax dollars are spent each year…