Upstate Mayors Oppose Transparency

Less than a week after elected representatives from across the Upstate announced support for putting local government spending records online, the mayors of three cities are publicly attacking the idea.

According to The Greenville News, the mayors of Simpsonville, Mauldin and Fountain Inn each oppose efforts by some of their council members to put public spending records online.

Simpsonville Mayor Dennis Waldrop criticized open government in principle with his comments to the paper, stating that "people would question spending" and this would "hassle" city employees. Fountain Inn Mayor Gary Long described online transparency as a "24/7 audit by the public."

Mauldin Mayor Don Godbey objected to outside pressure for transparency and argued he doesn't think the issue is very important locally. Godbey said "anybody who wants info from the city has access to it” via the state Freedom of Information Act.

While citizens do have the right to public records under the act, a 2008 Policy Council study found multiple examples of local governments demanding thousands of dollars in copying and labor fees prior to making information available. In fact, South Carolina's public school districts demanded more than $400,000 in fees before complying with a request for public spending records.

Simpsonville City Councilwoman Tammy Bagwell called on her city to put city records online during a June 24 press conference and said the people have an absolute right to question their government.

"It (transparency) makes us accountable. It makes us responsible. We have to answer to the public," said Bagwell.

Since 2006, 14 states and five of the nation’s 40 largest school districts have created online check registers at no cost to the taxpayer. At the state level, Comptroller Eckstrom already operates a transparency website for 85 state agencies and has repeatedly offered to help local governments implement transparency.

Multiple local governments across the state have used this help to create online spending websites, including Anderson and Charleston counties. The cities of Aiken, Cayce, Irmo and Turbeville have posted complete financial records as well. Officials from the city of Columbia, South Congaree and Dorchester County have committed to transparency, but are not yet online.

Click here to visit the Comptroller General's local government spending transparency website

"We are spending more public money than ever in history and transparency is important in order for taxpayers to communicate their priorities and ensure they know where their tax dollars are being spent," said Landess.

Greenville County Councilman Willis Meadows said he fully supports online transparency and hopes to convince the rest of his fellow council members to commit to the project. He said some council members worry there will be a cost or burden to county employees, but that after speaking with officials in counties with transparency websites already in place he is convinced it would actually save time and money.

"It costs our citizens to get this (information), but it also costs the county a good bit of money to research this. If we had some of this online then the county personnel could be doing other things while you as a citizen could look these things up," said Meadows.

Nothing in the foregoing should be construed as an attempt to aid or hinder passage of any legislation. Copyright 2009. South Carolina Policy Council Education Foundation. 1323 Pendleton Street, Columbia, South Carolina 29201.