The COMET's Response To Potential Ineligible Use of $1.4 Million Dollars of the Richland County Transportation Penny

In light of the recent article about the potential of $1.4 million being ineligible use of the Richland County Transportation Penny, some facts are available below. The COMET has always been, and will continue to be, committed to being open and transparent. That commitment has remained the same throughout our entire existence in the Midlands.

- The COMET has been openly participating as an “adjunct” to a lawsuit between Richland County and South Carolina Department of Revenue (DOR).
- As a part of that process, the DOR audited all of The COMET’s expenses from July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2018.
- At any point, anyone can view The COMET’s budget and the contract with Transdev because they are available online at http://catchthecometsc.gov/…/request-for-information-regar…/.
- The COMET is continuing conversations with the DOR on several areas where expenditures have been initially deemed ineligible for penny funds.
- The COMET has been advised that $1.4 million out of the $99 million of the Richland County Penny funds spent since July 2013 has been initially deemed potentially ineligible. That is only 1.4% of the amount.
- The COMET is currently both seeking and providing additional information as to the appropriateness of using Penny funds for the $1.4 million dollars identified.
- The COMET will continue to work with the DOR until both parties are satisfied.
- Most of the potentially ineligible expenses are as a result of the 2015 contract between The COMET and Transdev Transit Services, Inc of which The COMET proactively withheld $245,000 of those funds.
- The COMET’s financial information is available at http://catchthecometsc.gov/…/the-comet-fye-2018-comprehens…/
- The COMET’s governance information is available at http://catchthecometsc.gov/tale-of-the-comet/