Tax records show Mayor Marilyn Hatley and her family have history of tax problems

Tax records show a business owned by North Myrtle Beach mayor Marilyn Hatley, her husband David, and their son Chad has a lengthy history of failing to pay property taxes on time.

The company, DMAC Enterprises has failed to pay its taxes before the deadline for seven of the past eight years.

More than 50 pages of tax records News13 obtained from Horry County show Mayor Hatley owns one-third of DMAC Enterprises.

According to the latest report, DMAC Enterprises had a property tax bill from October of last year that wasn’t paid until earlier this week.

Additionally, these records show her son, Chad, who is currently nominated for the Horry County planning committee, and his law firm, owe the IRS and S.C. State Revenue Department more than $184,000 in combined tax liens.

Mortgage records clearly show North Myrtle Beach Mayor Marilyn Hatley owns one-third of DMAC Enterprises.
   
But, Horry County tax records also show the company has been late for paying property taxes for that business for seven of the past eight years - much of the time Hatley has served as mayor.
   
Horry County Auditor Lois Eargle says Hatley owes it to the taxpayers she serves to follow the rules.

“An elected official has to have a higher standard when it comes to doing what’s right and paying your bills,“ said Eargle

And pay the Hatleys have - almost $2,000 in penalties for all those delinquent taxes.

Following today’s Main Street Connector dedication in North Myrtle Beach we attempted to get an explanation from Mayor Hatley.
   
But, she refused to answer our questions.

Mayor Hatley’s tax history pales in comparison to that of her son - Chad.

There are a total of 26 tax liens against him or his law firm totaling more than $184,000.
   
Among the 26 liens is the largest one the IRS filed for more than $70,000 for 2006.
   
As of 4 p.m. today, Chad still had not paid off that lien, or any of the others.

Horry County Councilman Harold Worley has nominated Chad to serve on the county planning committee.
   
But, at Tuesday night’s council meeting, Horry County Administrator John Weaver asked for a delay in the appointment.
   
Weaver told News 13 Worley asked him to ask for the delay.
   
At the connector ceremony today, we asked Worley for an explanation:

News 13’s Landon Sears: “Mr. Worley can you please explain the delay in the appointment of Chad Hatley, Tuesday night?“
Councilman Harold Worley: “Uh. We didn’t have the paper work.
Sears: “Do you have it now?”
Worley: “No.”
Sears: “Have you looked at his resume yet?
Worley: “I hadn’t seen it. I hadn’t been able to get up with him. I’ve just been busy.
Sears: Are you aware that there’s (almost) $200,000 in liens out on him?
(Worley walks away)

News 13 asked Eargle for her opinion of the appointment.

Horry Co. Auditor Lois Eargle: “Anybody that has a liens, and owes taxes should not be appointed to a public office…
Sears: “Including Chad Hatley?
Eargle: “Including Chad Hatley.”

County Council is scheduled to take Chad Hatley’s appointment to the planning commission up again later this month.

It’s important to note that News 13 attempted on at least a half dozen occasions to contact the Hatley family for comment on the tax record for DMAC Enterprises.
   
Not once have they been willing to talk to us.
   
Meanwhile, Nicole Aiello, who serves as the City of North Myrtle Beach’s Public Information Officer told us today that if we submit our questions ahead of time that, “We’d be happy to talk to you about it.“
   
News 13 plans to do just that.