Gilland's unpaid fines grow, handed to revenue department

By: Continuous News Desk Staff | SCNow
Published: November 12, 2009

The fines for Horry County Council chairwoman Liz Gilland will not increase, but they’re not going away.

In September, the State Ethics Commission criticized Gilland for having $300,000 in unpaid fines. Those fines were from numerous violations over campaign disclosure forms.

Since then, those fines have increased to $367,000 because they have not been paid.

Gilland went to the ethics commission office Tuesday to fill out the necessary paperwork in order for her to be “in compliance” with the department.

Now that the proper paperwork has been filed for Gilland to be compliant, her fines will not increase.

While she still needs to pay for these fines, Gilland cannot be removed from office for having an outstanding balance.

Kathy Hazlewood, the ethics commission legal counselor, said the only way someone can be removed from office is if they commit a felony. However, Hazlewood said this information could show up on Gilland’s tax records and her wages could be summoned until the money is paid back.

Now that Gilland has filed her paperwork with the ethics commission, all of the information concerning her fines will be turned over to the Dept. of Revenue.

Gilland had the opportunity to appeal these fines, but the deadline to do so has passed.