Jasper County Treasurer Battles for Financial Transparency

The newly elected Jasper County Treasurer, Michael Skinner, has filed a lawsuit against the county administrator and a deputy administrator, alleging that they have denied him full access to the county's bank accounts, which he claims is required by law to perform his duties. Skinner's legal action seeks a Writ of Mandamus from the South Carolina Supreme Court to force the administrators to grant him signatory authority over all Jasper County government bank accounts.

Uncovering a Complex Financial Landscape in Jasper County

Allegations of Restricted Access to Bank Accounts

Skinner claims that upon taking office in July 2023, he discovered that there are at least 96 bank accounts belonging to Jasper County and its political subdivisions, but these accounts are not under the oversight of the Treasurer's Office. He alleges that his requests to the county administration to provide him with access to these accounts and to be made a signatory have been denied.Skinner further states that after sharing his concerns with the South Carolina State Treasurer, Curtis Loftis, they co-signed letters to several banks requesting that Skinner be granted signatory authority on all accounts associated with Jasper County. However, the banks have refused to do so without the consent of the existing signatories, believed to be the county administrator and deputy administrator.

Allegations of Obstructed Transition and Lack of Transparency

In his legal filing, Skinner makes several other allegations, including that he received no transition from the outgoing treasurer, who had held the office for several years. He claims that upon taking office, he "encountered chaos and disorder suggestive of efforts to sabotage his ability to perform the duties of his office."Skinner also alleges that the Treasurer's Office website had been taken offline, and that documents had been removed from the office and placed into storage without any indication of what records were removed or where they were stored. Additionally, he claims that the petty cash drawer was found locked in the office of another Jasper County official three days after he took office.

Ongoing Audits and Investigations

The controversy surrounding Skinner's access to the county's bank accounts is further complicated by the fact that the Jasper County Council has commissioned two separate audits of the Treasurer's Office since Skinner took office. The first audit, conducted by the Baird Audit Group, was initiated in March 2023 to review "errors and missteps" in the department.The findings of this special audit, presented to the council in May 2023, highlighted the need for formalized procedures and better communication between the Treasurer's Office and the Finance Office. The audit also revealed a lack of written policies and procedures, which the current Treasurer and Finance Office are now working to address.

Jasper County's Response and Legal Strategy

In response to Skinner's legal action, the Jasper County Council has voted unanimously to retain the Parker Poe law firm to represent the county administrators in this matter. The council has also directed the county attorney to investigate whether Skinner violated any laws by using public funds to hire his legal counsel, Bland Richter, LLP.Jasper County Administrator Andrew Fulgham has stated that the county does not comment on pending or active litigation. However, the county's legal team, led by Walt Cartin of Parker Poe, is expected to file a formal reply with the South Carolina Supreme Court on June 27, 2023.

Treasurer Skinner's Commitment to Transparency

In response to the Jasper County Council's actions, Skinner's legal team, Bland Richter, LLP, has issued a statement expressing their understanding of the importance of responsible fiscal management and transparency. The firm has agreed to adjust the terms of its engagement to mirror those of the attorneys retained by the county, in an effort to minimize the financial burden on Jasper County residents.Skinner's attorney, Ronnie Richter, has stated that Skinner remains willing to withdraw his petition if he is granted access to the county's bank accounts. This ongoing legal dispute, Richter says, "underscores the critical need for clear and transparent financial oversight within the County's operations."As the battle for financial transparency in Jasper County continues, the outcome of this legal battle will have significant implications for the county's residents and the integrity of its financial management.