SEWER AUTHORITY VOTE AVERTS POTENTIAL LEGAL ISSUE

The Oconee Joint Regional Sewer Authority passed a budget for the upcoming fiscal year at their meeting yesterday. On the second vote, three members representing Walhalla joined Seneca’s three members to pass the budget by a vote of 6 to 2.

Westminster’s two representatives voted against the budget due to concerns over whether or not their city is being accurately billed for wastewater sent from Westminster’s customers into conveyance lines.

Following the vote, Executive Director Chris Eleazer told the board that keeping the current budget into the next fiscal year is not an option. He said that, under South Carolina state law, it is a criminal act to spend money that has not been appropriated through an approved balanced budget for the coming year.

Eleazer went on to say that if the board spent even a penny after July 1st, he would be held criminally liable. Eleazer outlined such a scenario based on an attorney’s opinion that he sought, anticipating the commissioners might again disagree on a new budget.