Greenville taxpayer sues to recover illegal fees from county
October 21, 2021
A Greenville County taxpayer has sued the county to recover, for himself and others, fees that the South Carolina Supreme Court has ruled that the county had charged illegally.
Greenville County has in recent years collected an estimated $30 million from taxpayers by charging improper road maintenance and telecommunications fees. On June 30, the state Supreme Court declared the county ordinances establishing those fees to have been passed by the county council in contravention of state law.
Despite the court’s finding, and the apparent recognition by the council that the fees constituted an unlawful tax, the Greenville County Council has twice voted not to return the money to taxpayers.
Taxpayer Jerry A. Bruce is suing in Greenville County Common Pleas to have the fees returned to him and all others in the county who have paid the illegal fees – plus statutory damages amounting to 10 times the total. Mr. Bruce is represented by David Price and Sam Tooker of David Price, Jr., PA; and Terry E. Richardson, Jr., Brady R. Thomas, and Will Lewis of Richardson Thomas.
