It’s a constant nightmare in Hampton County. It’s obvious that Halloween is just around the corner, given the spooky events taking place at the county administration building on Jackson Street East. You can consider this a public service warning.
As almost everyone in Hampton County now knows, the former County Council and its administration misspent $5.1 million in taxpayer dollars that belonged to the Capital Project Sales Tax (CPST) fund ) and to the fire fund. The new Council now wants to discuss restarting the process to hold another referendum on the 1% CPST sales tax. May I remind you that the Council has not returned any of the money misspent in these restricted accounts nor has it told the public who misspent the money or where that money was misspent.
On October 16, 2023, I sat with deep and sincere sadness in the conference room of the Administration Building as the Council discussed a new CPST tax. Every available chair in the room was occupied by interested citizens. In my opinion, almost everyone in the room felt a sense of disbelief that this Council would have the gall to discuss a topic like this. It seems there is no shame in politics, especially in Hampton County.
One of the most frightening comments recently was from Councilman Roy Hollingsworth at the last council meeting when he said the county needs to either raise property taxes or sponsor a new CPST tax to correct the center’s problems detention. Please allow me to remind the good public that the detention center was 6th on the previous CPST list and if the CPST money had not disappeared there should have been more than a million dollars in the CPST fund to take care of the detention center. It appears Councilman Hollingsworth wants to tax citizens twice for the detention center. Councilor Hollingsworth and the previous council collected the money and refused to acknowledge where it was misspent. So the easy solution is simply to tax us again. Tell me this isn’t a nightmare.
I can’t explain to you why this item is on the agenda and I can’t believe it even merits debate. What hurts most is our state’s failure to investigate the chicanery and the blatant lack of accountability we have seen from the Board in matters like these. I don’t think the people of Hampton County will take the bait at this absurd idea and vote in favor of this referendum, especially when no one has explained how the $5.1 million will be repaid. In my opinion, $3.6 million of that money belongs to the children, because they benefit the most from a recreational complex. It is definitely time for adults to stop childish games and step up and do the right thing. Sitting around a conference table discussing how you can generate additional revenue and not taking responsibility for money already misspent is an egregious action by the Council. Shame on them for discussing it.
It is time for the Council to show a little goodwill. Set up your recovery plan to return misspent money. Move forward by hiring an architect or engineer to study the Wade Hampton High School property to verify the feasibility of locating the recreational complex there. The Council has nearly $1 million in former CPST funds and $3 million from Congressman Clyburn specifically earmarked for Hampton County recreation. It’s time to create positive actions. I have personally provided the Council with several companies in South Carolina that perform this type of work. It is clear that projects can be started now at the Wade Hampton site that will benefit the school and recreation complex for years to come. This requires action by Council to undertake a study to determine whether the site is suitable for a resort.
The citizens of Hampton County deserve more focused leadership when discussing the recreation complex. Another proposal I have submitted to the Council is to involve current recreation leaders who run the baseball, soccer and football programs to sit at the table planning a recreation complex. Why not also involve someone with a finance background and construction experience? An ad hoc committee could work with the engineering design and construction company until the project is completed. After the nightmare of delaying the project for over 11 years, you would think this could be a priority issue for the Council. However, no real action or discussion appears to be taking place. A feasibility study could already have been carried out on the Wade Hampton site and concrete decisions could have been taken. The question of sustainability could have been addressed by calculating the amount of tournament revenue, entry fees and concession profits. As I listened to complaints about whether there would be enough maintenance help, I had to remind the group that Hampton County’s youth league football, baseball and soccer programs operate with volunteers and I believe that volunteers will continue to serve children. As noted at the meeting, the Recreation Director position is vacant. Please hire someone with the right skills to lead this initiative and do it quickly.
A council member mentioned working with the Beaufort YMCA to operate the recreational complex. Please note that membership fees for youth under the age of 12, according to the Beaufort YMCA website, are a $25 initiation fee and $35 per month. This fee structure alone will prevent many children in the county from participating. The Council must work on a core program including football, baseball, girls softball and soccer, coupled with current programs in basketball, dance, gymnastics, etc. Establish these programs and then augment the program with YMCA-style after-programs. school programs. Hopefully one day a pool will be incorporated and the YMCA is great at aquatic training. Wade Hampton’s new wing could accommodate many of these programs in addition to theater, strength and exercise equipment, and arts and crafts.
When thinking about money and how the Council can repay some of the misspent funds, it makes no sense to distribute additional taxpayer funds to a private entity for a private building. The county currently gives Friends of the Arts (FOTA) $40,000 a year in support, but the folks at FOTA are asking the county to foot a bill for asbestos abatement at a private building on Lee Avenue. Why can’t the $3,200 bill be paid with part of the $40,000 gift? I’m sure many taxpayers would like help with repairs to their private homes. Using public money to maintain private buildings is not acceptable. Why would the county consider paying a bill on private property when the county has hundreds of thousands of dollars in unpaid legitimate bills?
Don’t make the same mistake other counties have made in dealing with their county councils. Failing to provide public input on important issues affecting the entire county is a recipe for disaster. We should know, considering the financial mess Hampton County finds itself in. Council will place the CPST item on the agenda for the November 6, 2023 Council meeting. It is imperative that citizens demand the return of misspent money before discussing any additional CPST projects. After all, taxpayers approved the construction of a recreational complex in 2012. Eleven years later, virtually nothing has been accomplished. I view this inaction and misspending of money as an ongoing nightmare for Hampton County until the situation is corrected.
Ultimately, the forensic audit ball continues to bounce around Jackson East. It seems the joy comes from just talking about it. Some are against. Some want you to think they are “for it,” but they hope it goes away. The cost is always a red flag for some. I contend this will be money well spent and the good people of Hampton County will learn the truth about how their hard-earned tax dollars have been mismanaged and misspent.
Please consider appearing at the November 6 council meeting to express your concern about starting another CPST project. Otherwise, it could be a bad moon rising and nightmares galore.
