CALHOUN FALLS, S.C. —
In Calhoun Falls, a state-ordered forensic audit is revealing how the town's debt has reached its current mounting state. This comes after ongoing water issues, a lawsuit, large sums owed to the City of Abbeville and Dominion Energy, and a lack of transparency from Mayor Terrico Holland.
State Representative Craig Gagnon and Councilman Viggo Lassen pushed for the audit to be done. The audit findings span across 54 pages; here are some of the highlights.
"The townspeople need a way to take people that are crooked and corrupt, get them out of office," Lassen said.
According to the audit, from 2020 to 2024, the town's utility fund lost nearly $300,000 per year due to broken meters and unbilled usage. The audit highlights, nearly $850,000 were transferred from the town's general fund to keep the utility fund going. The transfers were done without required approval forms and communication to council.
"It's just jaw-dropping that they did things the way they did over there," Gagnon said.
The audit shares that financial updates to council stopped under Mayor Terrico Holland and financial statement audits were incomplete from 2021 to 2024. The incomplete audits resulted in state funds and grant opportunities being withheld.
"When you take a position of this nature, you really get to understand the ins and outs and what's required of you legally," Gagnon said.
Revealed in the audit, credit card charges increased under Holland's tenure, totaling nearly $187,000 and only 56% of purchases had receipts. Included in the total was $17,000 for in-town meals and $20,000 on waste or spending abuse.
The audit also shows there were cash bonuses amounting in $30,000 and pay raises that all lacked required approval.
"I'm not getting paid to be a councilman. I haven't received the first paycheck," Lassen said. "I wonder where my money and my paycheck went."
"Who did they give the money to? Who has the money?" Gagnon said.
The audit also names Clerk and Treasurer Wendi Lewis, who failed to ensure timely and proper documentation for credit card expenses.
"She's the one who signs the checks. She's the one that distributes the money," Lassen said.
WYFF News 4 reached out to Mayor Terrico Holland and Clerk and Treasure Wendi Lewis, we were told, "no comment." The audit also names the Clerk of Court, Stephanie Copelan, who started a petty cash fund using court fines.
By June 2024, the town had over $629,000 in payables but less than $300,000 in the bank, according to the audit.
The findings were given to the South Carolina Inspector General's Office. Gagnon is anticipating what the next step will be after the review.
According to Gagnon, Calhoun Falls still owes the city of Abbeville $400,000 in debt. The city of Abbeville supplies water to Calhoun Falls for a monthly fee. Gagnon said the town has submitted one payment, but he is not certain of the amount.
Calhoun Falls also owed Dominion Energy $157,000 in debt. According to Gagnon, the town has settled its debt. Gagnon told WYFF News 4 that he does not know what funds town leaders used to pay the debt owed.
Read the full forensic audit report here.