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SC freezes state funding to Hampton County until audit is submitted. What to know.

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SC freezes state funding to Hampton County until audit is submitted. What to know.


For the second time in two years, the state of South Carolina has frozen state funding to Hampton County government after the county failed to file financial reports as required by law.

The South Carolina Treasurer’s Office confirmed to The Hampton County Guardian Wednesday that Hampton County has not submitted its Fiscal Year 2023 external audit to the State Treasurer’s Office as required by law, and as a result, there will be financial and possibly legal consequences.

“As a result of not submitting their audit, their funds are being withheld,” stated Karen Ingram, Communications Director with the S.C. Treasurer’s Office, in an email to The Guardian. “The state treasurer will withhold state aid to subdivision funds until the audit is submitted.”

Ingram added that the state treasurer will hold all the distributions they normally send to Hampton County, but wouldn’t stop all payments from other agencies.

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Counties required to conduct annual audits

Counties in South Carolina are required to engage external firms to conduct annual financial audits. These audit reports are due Jan. 1 for the previous fiscal year (ending June 30).

Counties may request a 90-day extension. Hampton County applied for and received the 90-day extension, which ended March 31 and still has not filed the report.

Council member, SC Rep. Hager respond

Administrator Lavar Youmans, Treasurer Jennifer Ginn Youmans, and the majority of the Council members did not return emails seeking comment. However, one councilperson, Camille Welch, offered a statement.

“I can not comment or share any information concerning the status of the audit because I have been provided no information,” Welch said. “Due to some health issues, I have been unable to attend recent meetings, however, I have requested to be included and provided with information via multiple emails and asked for clarification concerning decisions taken and agreements entered into with consultants but they have not been answered. Council, the county attorney and the administrator have been copied on all emails.”

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S.C. Representative William Hager (House District 122) also issued a statement:

“It is unfortunate that Hampton County has had more than one instance of a late annual audit. Theseaudits are required by the State of South Carolina, and the fact that we are now once again past boththe deadline and the grace period is unconscionable. It is almost certain that the state will cut offfunding to the county as a result. When this happened last time, the former Comptroller Generalreleased those funds on his way out of office. We will not have that good fortune this time. I hope thatthe county council, treasurer, and administrator handle this situation with the seriousness itrequires.”

Treasurer’s Office froze funding in 2023

The S.C. Treasurer’s Office also froze state funding over the same issue in March 2023. This freeze impacted money for Hampton County EMS, the Council on Aging, and other departments and services.

S.C. state law mandates that “municipalities and counties perform annual audits to ensure the proper collection, reporting and distribution of fines and assessments from the point of collection to the point of distribution. Audits should include a supplementary schedule detailing all fines and assessments collected at the court level, the amount remitted to the municipal or county treasurer and the amount remitted to the State Treasurer,” states the S.C. Treasurer’s website.

“Effective June 7, 2023, SC Code Section 4-9-150 was amended to transition the responsibility of collection of county annual audits and management of related withholding from the Comptroller General’s Office to the State Treasurer’s Office. The State Treasurer’s Office is required to withhold certain funding if local governments do not submit their completed audit within the time parameters prescribed in state law.”

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Local governments can submit their audits online by emailing them. Counties may request an extension of up to 90 days using an online form.

Six SC counties ‘failed to submit their annual audit’

As of April 10, Hampton County was one of six counties that “failed to submit their annual financial audit to the State Treasurer’s Office within the parameters prescribed in state law,” added the website. Those counties include Allendale, Calhoun, Hampton, Marion, Orangeburg, and Williamsburg.

To learn more about this issue, go to the S.C. Treasurer’s Audit Information webpage.

This story may be updated if additional information develops, or public officials respond with comment.



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Obituary for David Okayama Johnson at Dial-Murray Funeral Home

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Obituary for David Okayama Johnson at Dial-Murray Funeral Home


David Okayama Johnson, age 72, of Russellville, passed away peacefully at his home on Tuesday morning. Born July 27, 1953, in Sinda, Japan, Mr. Johnsons life was marked by service, dedication, and love for family and community. He was the retired head of security at Sage Valley Golf Club and



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Smoke across Cape Fear area likely linked to South Carolina fire – WWAYTV3

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Smoke across Cape Fear area likely linked to South Carolina fire – WWAYTV3


Satellite imagery appears to show smoke from South Carolina drifting into the Cape Fear on 4/14/26.
(Courtesy: StormTrack3 Weather Team)

CAPE FEAR, NC (WWAY) — Residents across the Cape Fear region are reporting smoke and smoky odors in the air, prompting calls and messages to local officials.

According to the WWAY StormTrack 3 Weather Team, the smoke is not from a local fire but is drifting into the area from a wildfire burning in South Carolina.

Meteorologists say current wind patterns are carrying the smoke north into southeastern North Carolina, leading to reduced air quality and visibility in some areas.

Residents may notice the smell of smoke or a hazy appearance in the sky.

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The situation will depend on changing wind patterns.

Categories: Brunswick, Brunswick, Local, NC, NC, NC-Carolinas, NC-Carolinas, New Hanover, New Hanover, News, Pender, Top Stories





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Coroner: Toddler dies after being hit by vehicle in Upstate

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Coroner: Toddler dies after being hit by vehicle in Upstate


Driver charged with DUI after toddler hit, killed by vehicle in Anderson

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Driver charged with DUI after toddler hit, killed by vehicle in Anderson

Updated: 10:01 PM EDT Apr 13, 2026

Editorial Standards

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A toddler was killed after being hit by a vehicle in Anderson, South Carolina, on Monday night, according to the coroner’s office.We are told a toddler was hit by a vehicle on South Murray Avenue near El Latino Bar & Grill in the 1500 block of South Murray Avenue. The initial call came in around 8:15 p.m.Around 9:10 p.m., the Anderson County Coroner’s Office said that a toddler has died.The Anderson Police Department said that the driver has been charged with felony DUI involving death.The incident is currently under investigation by Anderson Police with assistance from South Carolina Highway Patrol.Stay tuned with WYFF News 4 as we learn more.This comes only a day after two children were hit and killed in another DUI crash in Spartanburg County.Keep up with what’s happening around our area by downloading the WYFF News 4 app on the App Store or Google Play.

A toddler was killed after being hit by a vehicle in Anderson, South Carolina, on Monday night, according to the coroner’s office.

We are told a toddler was hit by a vehicle on South Murray Avenue near El Latino Bar & Grill in the 1500 block of South Murray Avenue. The initial call came in around 8:15 p.m.

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Around 9:10 p.m., the Anderson County Coroner’s Office said that a toddler has died.

crash in anderson

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The Anderson Police Department said that the driver has been charged with felony DUI involving death.

The incident is currently under investigation by Anderson Police with assistance from South Carolina Highway Patrol.

Stay tuned with WYFF News 4 as we learn more.

This comes only a day after two children were hit and killed in another DUI crash in Spartanburg County.

Keep up with what’s happening around our area by downloading the WYFF News 4 app on the App Store or Google Play.

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