Oconee taxpayers overcharged $72 million?

Nowell said the red flags went up a week ago while he was compiling local government reports for the South Carolina Office of Comptroller General.

The bottom line on those total revenue collection reports from 2004-2008, which were made available to the Daily Journal/Messenger, shows the following:

• $73.2 million total revenues collected in fiscal year ending June 30, 2004

• $76.9 million in fiscal year ending June 30, 2005

• $95.2 million in fiscal year ending June 30, 2006

• $95.6 million fiscal year ending June 30, 2007

• $89.7 million in fiscal year ending June 30, 2008

The nearly 24 percent increase from the amount collected in fiscal 2005 to 2006 caught Nowell’s attention.

“The numbers didn’t make sense,” Nowell said.

County budget shenanigans in our neck of the woods. The total revenue windfalls from 2006 to 2008 were not questioned by county financial gurus - they just spent it. Treasurer Greg Nowell has busted the administrators who are now, since they've been caught, howling about how it wasn't their fault and how the county's finances will suffer if reparations to taxpayers are demanded.