Hembree to pre-file bill to ‘fix broken towns’

Sen. Greg Hembree said he will pre-file a bill Wednesday for next session that would subject some towns in South Carolina to an audit of its services that are supposed to be provided and the taxes it charges its residents.

Notably along the Grand Strand, the bill could impact Atlantic Beach, which has had its wave of administration changes, court battles and more.

The bill, known as “Charter Review,” is designed to put the Joint Legislative Committee on Municipal Incorporation in charge of “reviewing documentation submitted concerning the continuation of a municipality’s certificate of incorporation and to make a recommendation to the Secretary of State whether the municipality is providing an adequate level of municipal services to warrant the continuation of its certificate of incorporation,” according to the bill.