County officials accused of running a “misdirection play” on property taxes

The insert included a comparison of county council and school board budgets that showed a 54 percent increase in school taxes since 1991 and a 5 percent decrease in county taxes.

"Is this the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth?" Floyd asked.

What county officials fail to mention, Floyd said, is that they have benefited from a 1 percent local sales tax since 1997 to provide a credit to taxpayers.

Floyd took the unusual step of addressing the school board from the public podium as his personal tax bill was projected on a screen. It showed that he received a $382 sales tax discount.

"Let’s assume that the county didn’t have the local sales tax option," he said. "What would the county’s millage be?"

The answer is 35.39 mills, which would translate into a 65.5 percent budget increase since 1991, Floyd said.

"Who is misleading whom?" he asked. "From my point of view, this is a clear misrepresentation of the facts to every citizen of Berkeley County."

"This is not only my opinion, Floyd added, noting that he’s conferred with outside auditors and attorneys who agree with him. "The truth is, folks, this is a misdirection play."

The superintendent said the school district can account for every dime spent and went to great lengths in numerous public meetings to explain its budget.

"I will continue to make recommendations that are good for students that I know in my heart are good," Floyd told the board. "I will not apologize for all the improvements made over the past several years. I am proud of what you have done."