BLYTHEWOOD – Amelia McKie’s ethics debts keep mounting.
After missing a recent payment deadline, the Richland Two school board chair now owes nearly $52,000 in fines to the South Carolina Ethics Commission, an agency spokesperson confirmed.
McKie
In July 2018, the commission fined McKie $41,000 as part of an eight-count complaint that said she failed to file quarterly campaign disclosure reports.
McKie was ordered to pay the first $20,000 by New Year’s Eve. She missed that deadline, meaning the total fine increases to $51,750, according to the complaint.
“No payments were made prior to 12/31/18 and the fine amount for that particular order reverts as outlined in the order,” an ethics commission representative said via email.
Attempts to reach McKie have been unsuccessful.
In 2015, the ethics commission partnered with the S.C. Department of Revenue to increase ethics debt collection efforts through the DOR’s Setoff Debt Governmental Enterprise Accounts Receivable, or GEAR, collection programs.
Debtors who have reached “bad debt status” are referred to the Department of Revenue, according to the Ethics Commission website.
The Department of Revenue is authorized to garnish wages and tax refunds, or also impose liens to satisfy debts.
The Richland Two school board’s next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 8 at the Richland Two Institute of Innovation at 763 Fashion Drive, Columbia.
An agenda says the board will meet in executive session at 5:30, with the business meeting commencing at 6:30 p.m.
