Brief Bio
Scott Songer is an entrepreneur, community advocate, and candidate for Beaufort County Treasurer. He has built and led several successful businesses, including financial technology companies, and currently serves on the Beaufort County Solid Waste and Recycling Board and the vestry of All Saints Episcopal Church. Scott and his wife, Stephanie, have three daughters and have lived in Beaufort County for eight years. He is running to protect taxpayer dollars, improve transparency, and keep more of
email
treasurer@scottsonger.com
The Treasurer does not decide education policy or appropriate funds, but the office is responsible for collecting, safeguarding, and distributing tax revenue according to law. I will maintain a clear audit trail showing how much is collected for public education, when it is transferred, and where it goes. I will publish regular, plain-language reports so taxpayers can see that locally levied school taxes reach the public school system for which they were intended. I will not use the Treasurer’s Office to redirect public-school revenue to private-school initiatives.
Tax laws must be applied consistently, but equal treatment also requires making the system understandable and accessible. I will provide earlier and clear payment reminders, strengthen outreach about exemptions and installment options, offer assistance through multiple channels, and make information available in plain language and Spanish. The goal should be to collect taxes successfully; not to generate penalties.
The Treasurer can verify that earmarked revenue is received, recorded correctly, reconciled, and transferred to the proper public entity. The School District is then responsible for how those funds are spent. I will maintain a complete receipt-to-transfer record and publish regular reconciliations. Beaufort County School District is already subject to annual external audits; taxpayers should be able to see clearly whether these specific commitments were funded and fulfilled.
The $250 should not be charged for every late payment. The supposed purpose is to cover delinquent-collection expenses so those costs are borne by delinquent accounts rather than all taxpayers. That fee deserves greater transparency and a review as to how it is being applied fairly.
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