GOP won’t pay total election cost

The S.C. Republican Party said Monday that it only will pay $180,000 toward the cost of conducting the state’s Jan. 21 presidential primary.

That could leave taxpayers to pick up $500,000 toward the prestigious first-in-the-South event.

The S.C. GOP had promised to pay more. But Monday the party informed the state that a November S.C. Supreme Court ruling absolved it from paying anything more than $180,000 toward the primary’s cost.

“The Supreme Court ruling was a game changer, making it clear only the state and counties could be involved in running the primary,” said Matt Moore, executive director of the state party, host of the primary. “The State GOP cannot be involved beyond what is clearly written in the Supreme Court ruling and state law.”

The GOP’s decision angers some county election officials. Prior to the Supreme Court ruling, the party repeatedly assured the counties it privately would raise whatever amount was needed to pay for the primary.

Unconvinced, the counties went to court, saying it was unfair for local taxpayers to be forced to pay the cost of the GOP primary at the same time county services are being cut because of the stagnant economy.

Now, the counties worry local taxpayers will be left to pay the difference.

“As a public official and someone who has to be a steward of public tax dollars, it’s disappointing,” said Scott Marshall, executive director of the Beaufort County Board of Elections. “But as a taxpaying citizen, it’s appalling that they can renege on a promise. They were promising to pay costs even as we were heading to court.”

In November, the state’s high court rejected challenges by four counties, including Beaufort, ruling the State Election Commission and counties are obligated to put on the primary.

Election officials in Beaufort, Chester, Greenville and Spartanburg counties unsuccessfully argued that they were not obligated to put on the primary, an endeavor they said would cost their local taxpayers more than $1 million in primary-related costs not covered by the state.

Moore said the counties should not be surprised that the Republican Party is limiting its financial contribution.

“We were negotiating in good faith with these four counties,” Moore said. “And yet they filed a hugely expensive lawsuit, knowing one of the potential outcomes was the Supreme Court would rule this way.”

The Republican Party must pay legal fees in six figures as a result of the lawsuit, Moore said.

It’s up in the air where the $500,000 will come from.

The State Election Commission has asked the state Office of State Budget for advice on what to do.

“We have put the budget office on notice that we will likely not have adequate funds for (primary) expenses,” said Chris Whitmire, spokesman for the State Election Commission. “We’re seeking their guidance on what to do.”