When an auto accident happens unexpectedly, anyone can become a victim. One moment you're commuting back home after a long day at the office. The next, your car is totaled, and you're injured in the hospital due to another person's negligence. It's not fair, but it happens every day. Unlike the irresponsible party who caused the accident, personal injury victims often suffer the most in auto accidents. They have to worry about lost days at work, the long road to recovery, and the inability to provide for their family. Sadly, many people injured in car accidents don't have the luxury of worrying about bills because they're fighting for life in the emergency room.
And while modern cars come equipped with safety features like blind spot monitoring and cross-traffic alerts, motor vehicle accidents are still a huge problem in South Carolina. According to the South Carolina Department of Public Safety, in 2020, one person was injured every 11 minutes in a car collision. Even worse, one fatal collision was recorded every 9.1 hours.
Unfortunately, victims of auto accident negligence often don't know what to do when another driver hits them. They have questions like:
These same innocent people provide official statements to insurance agencies without knowing the consequences.
However, if you or your loved ones are victims in a car crash, there's good news. Laws in South Carolina mandate that guilty parties must compensate for pain and suffering. But in order to get the compensation you deserve, it's crucial to work with a personal injury attorney in Rock Hill, SC. Experienced personal injury lawyers know how to bolster your case by securing witnesses for questioning, obtaining accident scene information, and documenting vehicle damage. If these tasks aren't completed quickly, you are far less likely to receive the compensation you and your family deserve.
Theos Law Firm exists to fight for your rights and to ensure negligent drivers are held responsible for the damage they do to your family. It's really that simple. We aren't afraid to trade blows with selfish insurance agencies. Because, unlike Theos Law Firm, they couldn't care less about your best interests.
Here are just a few reasons why so many hardworking people choose Theos Law Firm:
When you're involved in a car or truck accident, it can be a life-changing event. Having represented hundreds of personal injury victims, we understand that you may be confused and frightened. You know you need to speak with a lawyer, but you need a calm, cool presence to ease your anxiety. You need someone who understands what you're enduring, and we know how you feel. Unlike other auto accident attorneys, we believe that personal injury claims are more about the people involved and less about money and settlements. When you reach out to Theos Law Firm, you can rest easy knowing our team will treat you with dignity, compassion, and empathy.
With many years of combined personal injury experience, there's nothing that our team hasn't seen in terms of auto accidents. With that said, we understand that there is no "common" type of accident or scenario - no two accidents are the same. We have represented clients involved in DUI accidents, truck rollovers, reckless drivers, interstate pileups, rear-end collisions, and even Uber driver crashes. With such extensive experience, our team has the tools and talent to take care of you, regardless of how complicated your case might be.
The recovery process involved with automobile accidents changes with every person we represent. There are dozens of details to account for, from car repairs to insurance questions and everything in between. These small but necessary details aren't easy to accomplish for injured parties. That's why our team goes the extra mile to help cut through the red tape to ensure your medical bills are paid, and your car gets fixed. The less weight you have on your shoulders to worry about, the faster you can focus on recovering.
Unlike other personal injury law firms, our team is 100% committed to protecting your rights, and we're uniquely positioned to do so with decades of combined experience. We offer robust representation for many types of auto accidents, including:
If you have been the victim of an accident listed above, please understand that time is of the essence. There is limited time to seek compensation for your injuries, hospital bills, lost wages, and more. As such, there is only a short time to obtain experienced representation for your personal injury case.
Our team knows that finding the right attorney to represent you is an important choice. Therefore, we believe that an initial consultation is imperative to understand your needs and identify your goals fully. When we sit down with you to learn the nuances of your accident, we'll cover all aspects of South Carolina law pertaining to your case. That way, you're armed with information and have an idea of the next steps our firm will take to represent you.
Remember - the sooner we can dig into the details of your case, the sooner we can pursue your rightful compensation. As seasoned personal injury attorneys, our team specializes in several types of automobile accidents:
Car accidents are a serious problem in South Carolina. If you're an adult, you probably know someone involved in a bad car crash in our state. When you look at the stats, it seems like car accidents are always on the rise. One person was killed every 8.2 hours in a car collision. Even more sobering is that one teen driver is involved in a fatal or injury-causing collision every 1.6 hours. The unfortunate truth is that many people involved in car crashes were hurt due to the other driver's negligence.
Common car crash injuries in South Carolina include:
Car accident victims in South Carolina are often left to pay their medical bills but can't do so because they're too hurt to go to work or take their car in for repair. These life-changing scenarios can snowball into a series of scary events, leaving victims hopeless and unsure where to turn.
Fortunately, a car accident attorney in Rock Hill, SC can help you avoid these pitfalls and obtain the money you need to survive. At Theos Law Firm, our team has a deep understanding of the rules that dictate fault in South Carolina. We know that thorough representation is needed to receive maximum compensation, and we're well-prepared to achieve that goal for you.
Our car accident lawyers in South Carolina can recover compensation for injuries and damages:
The moments following the crash are often a blur when you're involved in a car accident. However, per South Carolina law, those on the scene must adhere to legal responsibilities and obligations.
First, try to stop your car and ensure it is positioned safely near the scene of the crash. Then, call 911 to report the accident. While most folks go into full-blown panic mode, you need to stay calm so you can process the situation. If you notice that there are injured people, give them "reasonable assistance." Per South Carolina Code of Laws, that could include transporting hurt people to a hospital or calling an ambulance for them.
If you're in a car crash, you need to be prepared to exchange contact information with other drivers at the accident scene. If the person who caused the collision is present, make sure to get their name, phone number, address, and insurance info. If witnesses are present, get their contact info, too, in case our team needs to obtain their account later.
Next, try to piece together how the car crash happened. This is an appropriate time to take photos of the cars, wreckage, and debris. Ask yourself if you think a vehicle failed to follow the rules of the road, like speeding or failing to stop at a stop sign.
Regardless of how minor your injuries may appear and who may be to blame for the accident, get legal advice from Theos Law Firm first before giving any recorded statements or refusing medical care.
Tractor-trailer and semi-truck crashes are often more complicated than two car crashing. Because these cases are more complex and nuanced, it's imperative that you contact a truck accident attorney in Rock Hill, SC to help you through the recovery process and win the compensation you deserve.
After a semi-truck crash, you must take steps quickly to preserve evidence so that the crash may be recreated. In serious semi-truck accidents where people are injured or killed, trucking companies usually send a team of investigators to the accident site immediately. These investigators will do their best to obtain evidence that can hurt you in court or even attempt to hide or destroy evidence. The last thing a trucking company wants is for you to win a settlement against them.
That's especially true since various entities may be liable for your truck accident injury, not just the driver. The trucking company, the trucking manufacturer, and the team responsible for truck maintenance could also be responsible. Additionally, if dangerous or inadequate road conditions factor into your accident, you could actually sue some government departments. For those reasons, it's critical to retain quality representation ASAP after a truck accident in South Carolina.
At Theos Law Firm, our team has experience winning compensation in many types of truck accidents, such as:
As your truck accident lawyer in South Carolina, we work hard to fight for your rights and win your case. In order to do so, our team will:
We'll arrive on-scene to notate skid mark length and the locations of vehicles involved. We will also capture detailed pictures and measurements pertinent to your crash.
Obtaining the trucking company's records and discovering the info they have on the semi-truck driver involved is an important part of our process. We will also secure access to the trucker's driving log notes, which they must maintain according to law.
Like airplanes and helicopters, big rigs have a "black box" that records real-time truck data, like speeds, changes in direction, and brake application.
We'll arrive on-scene to notate skid mark length and the locations of vehicles involved. We will also capture detailed pictures and measurements pertinent to your crash.
Sometimes an expert is needed to digest all the evidence and provide an expert opinion on the cause of the semi-truck collision. When needed, our team will hire such an expert to ensure your case is robust and air-tight.
We will obtain the police's investigation report and any accident photos, measurements, or other documentation taken by officers while investigating your semi-truck crash.
It's imperative to find all the witnesses of your accident and interview them to get recorded statements in a timely manner. Doing otherwise may result in faded memories and inaccurate facts.
Time and again, auto accident victims agree to early settlements provided by insurance companies because the offer seems like a lot. But what if you return to work after recovering from an accident, only for your pain to return?
With adjusters, lawyers, and investigators at their disposal, insurance agencies will do everything in their power to minimize the compensation you deserve. Don't let them pick on you or silence your voice. If you or a loved are victims of a negligent car or truck accident in South Carolina, contact Theos Law Firm today. We have the team, tools, and experience to fight back on your behalf, no matter how complicated your case may seem.
To schedule an appointment for your free consultation, contact Theos Law Firm in Rock Hill today.
As holiday season approaches, Todd Leahy is on the lookout for game-changing gifts. Gifts that will lead to a new present for all of Rock Hill, once the city opens it.Leahy is executive director of The Arts Center at Fountain Park, a planned $40 million performing arts center downtown.“Our goal, our vision,” he said, “is to be the premier destination for performing arts in this region in an active community space, that will inspire gene...
As holiday season approaches, Todd Leahy is on the lookout for game-changing gifts. Gifts that will lead to a new present for all of Rock Hill, once the city opens it.
Leahy is executive director of The Arts Center at Fountain Park, a planned $40 million performing arts center downtown.
“Our goal, our vision,” he said, “is to be the premier destination for performing arts in this region in an active community space, that will inspire generations to come.”
Leahy’s group has a site. They have schematics. They have a working schedule that could have the 520-seat performing arts center operational by the 2026 holiday season.
“Ideally we would love to have shovels in the ground by the end of 2024,” Leahy said.
The biggest factor for when the new arts center will open, Leahy said, is the high-level “game-changing gifts” his group needs to secure as it moves from a quieter phase this year to a more public one in 2024. Leahy told the Rock Hill Economic Development Corporation board at its October meeting the arts center likely will receive state funding and individual support, but it also will rely on area business.
“These things do not happen without contributions from the business community,” Leahy said.
He said it’s too early to say what state funding might be available for the project, and didn’t note specific fundraising targets with the economic development group.
Stand on the southern end of Fountain Park and look across Black Street. Properties there bounded by Black, Saluda Street, Elizabeth Lane and Flint Street make a block across from and about the size of Fountain Park itself. A smaller piece beyond Flint tapers to the intersection of Saluda and Elizabeth.
That’s the area where the new arts center will go.
The portion north of Flint is a mix of property owned by Comporium and the city of Rock Hill. Six properties combine for almost 2 acres. The smaller portion south of Flint includes two properties owned by Fountain Park Realty. That entity has the same business address as Comporium.
Leahy offers comparables like the Peace Center in Greenville or the Chapman Cultural Center in Spartanburg. The Peace Center redefined downtown Greenville decades ago and now gets 350,000 visitors per year, Leahy said, while pumping $120 million into its local economy.
Chapman Cultural Center opened in 2007 and gets 200,000 annual visitors, Leahy said, with a $32 million local impact.
Both projects received significant state funding to get started, Leahy said, and ongoing state funding in some cases. Leahy also looks north, not for the comparable but at the Blumenthal family of arts venues in Charlotte that bring in millions of dollars from York County guests.
“We’re hoping to keep some of that money right here,” Leahy said.
Leahy said the local arts community in York County is a roughly $27 million industry. There are symphony, blues and jazz festival, stage shows and other activities locally. The new performing arts center could become an economic engine for the community.
“Many people are moving to Charlotte,” Leahy said. “They’re choosing to live in Rock Hill.
“People want to move to this area, and they’re used to having these kinds of facilities where they’re moving from. They want that for Rock Hill, too.”
Leahy points to the more than 80,000 students from kindergarten to college on the South Carolina side of the state line.
“Many of those school groups have to go up to Charlotte to expose their students to the arts,” Leahy said. “We want to offer an opportunity right here in the local community to do that.”
Planners recently completed a schematic phase for the new facility. The group recently issued a request for proposals to bring construction costs into better focus.
The vision is a theater that can have dance, symphony, concerts, a film series and other events.
“Everything that people go to Blumenthal for right now, will be here,” Leahy said.
A grand lobby also will serve as a public gathering space. Galas and events could be held there throughout the year. Green rooms and space for artists could double as space for business meetings during the day.
“We want this to be a thriving center at all times during the day,” Leahy said.
A venue on the scale of what Leahy pitches would draw considerable interest from artists, he said. Upcoming events at the Peace Center, for instance, range from LeAnn Rimes, Babyface, David Foster with Katharine McPhee, Sarah Brightman and Itzhak Perlman performances to plays, step shows, comedies and a presentation by Neil Degrasse Tyson.
“We will attract the very best to come to this community,” Leahy said.
The coming year will be big for planners as they spread the word about the major performing arts project. For a venue that will bring headlining plays to the area, Leahy gave the business community here a challenge.
“The time to act is now,” he said.
John Marks graduated from Furman University in 2004 and joined the Herald in 2005. He covers community growth, municipalities, transportation and education mainly in York County and Lancaster County. The Fort Mill native earned dozens of South Carolina Press Association awards and multiple McClatchy President’s Awards for news coverage in Fort Mill and Lake Wylie.
Rock Hill, S.C. — Marcus & Millichap has brokered the $6.3 million sale of a single-tenant property located in Rock Hill. Walgreens occupies the 14,550-square-foot building on a triple-net-lease basis. Andrew Margulies, Harrison Creason and John Berger of Marcus & Millichap secured the buyer, and Dean Giannakopoulos of Marcus & Millichap Capital Corp. arranged acquisition financing. Zosime was the seller. 0 West Valley City, Utah — X Development and Midloch Investment P...
Rock Hill, S.C. — Marcus & Millichap has brokered the $6.3 million sale of a single-tenant property located in Rock Hill. Walgreens occupies the 14,550-square-foot building on a triple-net-lease basis. Andrew Margulies, Harrison Creason and John Berger of Marcus & Millichap secured the buyer, and Dean Giannakopoulos of Marcus & Millichap Capital Corp. arranged acquisition financing. Zosime was the seller.
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West Valley City, Utah — X Development and Midloch Investment Partners have acquired Highbury at Lake Park, a 119,366-square-foot retail center in West Valley City, a suburb of Salt Lake City. An undisclosed seller sold the property for $30 million. Tenants at the center include Target, Bank of America, Xfinity, Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers, Marshalls and Café Rio. Kip Paul of Cushman & Wakefield brokered the transaction, and America First Credit Union provided acquisition financing. Midloch is a preferred equity investor in the property, which is the firm’s first investment in the Salt Lake City market.
San Diego and Dallas — Realty Income Corp. (NYSE: O) and Spirit Realty Capital Inc. (NYSE: SRC) have entered into an all-stock merger agreement valued at $9.3 billion. The combined company, which will operate under the Realty Income banner, is expected to become the fourth largest REIT on the S&P 500 index with a total enterprise value of $63 billion.
Both companies primarily invest in freestanding, net-leased commercial properties. Realty Income boasts a portfolio of 13,100 properties located across the U.S. and Europe, and Spirit Realty owns a portfolio of 2,064 properties across 49 states.
Primary tenants across the combined company’s portfolio include Life Time Fitness, BJ’s Wholesale Club, At Home, Dave & Buster’s, Dollar Tree, The Home Depot, Treasury Wine Estates, Sainsbury’s, 7-Eleven, Lowe’s and Chipotle Mexican Grill.
Under terms of the agreement, each share of Spirit Realty Capital will be converted into 0.762 of a share of newly issued Realty Income stock. At closing, this will result in Realty Income and Spirit owning 87 percent and 13 percent of the combined company, respectively. No external capital is currently being used for the transaction.
Realty Income and Spirit cite the potential for higher earnings, a more competitive cost of capital and broader tenant diversification as key drivers for the merger. “Spirit’s assets are highly complementary to our existing portfolio, extending our investments in industries that have proven to generate durable cash flows over several economic cycles,” says Sumit Roy, Realty Income’s president and CEO.
The merger is subject to closing conditions, including approval by Spirit shareholders, and is scheduled for completion in 2024.
Wells Fargo served as financial advisor and Latham & Watkins is acting as legal advisor to Realty Income. J.P. Morgan Securities and Morgan Stanley & Co. are serving as financial advisors and Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz is acting as legal advisor to Spirit.
San Diego-based Realty Income’s stock price closed at $46.22 per share on Monday, Oct. 30, down from $59.46 one year ago. Dallas-based Spirit Realty Capital’s stock price closed at $34.89 per share on Monday, Oct. 30, down from $36.16 one year ago.
—Katie Sloan
Almost a dozen communities across the Rock Hill region will choose mayors next week, along with dozens of city or town council candidates.Election day is Nov. 7. Polls are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. across the region. Details are available at county voter registration offices or at scvotes.org. All races next week are nonpartisan. Only county council seats in the reg...
Almost a dozen communities across the Rock Hill region will choose mayors next week, along with dozens of city or town council candidates.
Election day is Nov. 7. Polls are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. across the region. Details are available at county voter registration offices or at scvotes.org. All races next week are nonpartisan. Only county council seats in the region file candidates by party affiliation.
Fort Mill has its mayoral job and one of three open town council seats contested in the coming election. Ryan Helms and Guynn Savage vie for mayor. Lisa Cook, Lindsay Curby and Matt Vilardebo contend for one town council at-large seat. Fort Mill also has two unopposed council candidates, incumbents Ronnie Helms in Ward 2 and Chris Moody in Ward 4.
Fort Mill Economic Partners and the York County Regional Chamber of Commerce hosted a candidate forum that’s viewable at the FMEP Facebook page.
Clover only has contested races. Greg Holmes and Bo Legg filed for mayor. Mike Easler, Brittany Farr, Jason Manos and Amy Nivens contend for three town council seats. The Greater Clover Chamber of Commerce hosted a candidate forum Oct. 26 that is available to view on that group’s Facebook page under the live tab.
Five candidates face off for two city council seats in Tega Cay. Brian Carter, Adam Grabiec, Ron Kirby, Carmen Miller and Daniel Robert all participated in an Oct. 25 candidate forum hosted by the regional chamber of commerce. It’s online at the city’s webpage tegacaysc.org or on Youtube.
Rounding out election season are a host of decisions in smaller communities, uncontested races or non-election day votes. They include:
▪ In Rock Hill, Brent Faulkenberry defeated Hope Matthews for the city council Ward 2 seat by 19 votes on Oct. 17. Incumbents Derrick Lindsay in Ward 1 and Kevin Sutton in Ward 3 won uncontested races.
▪ York only has uncontested races. They are Mike Fuesser for mayor, Eddie Brown for city council Ward 2, Marion Ramsey for city council Ward 3 and Stephanie Jarrett for city council Ward 4.
▪ Bryan Jenkins and Bill Nance face off for mayor in McConnells. Uncontested town council candidates are Liz Christenberry, Bill Covington, Jim Hoban and James Sciba.
▪ Hickory Grove candidates, all in uncontested races, are Larry Earl for mayor and Ollie Bankhead, Kevin Faulkner, Harry James Good and Kyle Wyatt for four town council seats.
▪ Sharon has Nicole Perkins unopposed for mayor, and three candidates on the ballot with four town council seats open. Candidates are Herschel Brown, Jr., Ashley Glenn and Margarette Parrish.
▪ Smyrna has all uncontested races. Frances Faulkner for mayor, plus only three candidates for four open town council seats in Kimberly Linow, Amy Myott and Jessica Smith.
▪ Contested Lancaster County races include Iva Drakeford, Howard Mickle and Vincent Webb for two town council seats in Heath Springs and Loyd Fox, Kristen Setzer and Kyle Starnes for two town council seats in Van Wyck.
Uncontested races are Mike Dorman for mayor and Bobbie Faulkenberry, Michael Cook and Randy Seegars for three town council seats in Kershaw.
▪ Chester County candidates are Flora Barber and James Harris for mayor and Flora Barber, Nancy Beatty, Recorda Holmes, Albert Stewart, Jr. and Helen Ruth Williams in Richburg; Joseph Wilson for mayor and Cole Abell, Buddy Courtney, Valeria Erwin and Mitchell Lisenby for town council in Lowrys; Carlton Martin for mayor with Lee Ann Gaston and Angel Waits for town council in Fort Lawn.
This story was originally published October 30, 2023, 12:06 PM.
ROCK HILL — A lawsuit filed by Rock Hill Schools on Oct. 6 alleges that the city failed to follow through on multiple promises, costing it millions of dollars.The lawsuit, filed in the 16th Judicial Circui...
ROCK HILL — A lawsuit filed by Rock Hill Schools on Oct. 6 alleges that the city failed to follow through on multiple promises, costing it millions of dollars.
The lawsuit, filed in the 16th Judicial Circuit in York County, accuses the city of overcharging electric bills and reneging on a 2020 agreement that would have provided educational opportunities for students.
The school district claims that the city has “taken advantage” of it “in each and every iteration of intergovernmental agreements.”
“We are disappointed in the lack of follow-through from the City of Rock Hill and are forced to take this step in order to protect the educational future of students,” Helena Miller, chairman of the district’s Board of Trustees, said in a press release.
The city vehemently denied the allegations at the Oct. 9 council meeting, calling them “without merit” in a statement read by Mayor John Gettys.
“Our children are our primary mission and should be the focus of every decision we make,” the statement reads. “The leadership of the School District has clearly lost its focus with regard to this mission.”
The lawsuit centers on an agreement between the city and school district signed in 2020. It was the third iteration of an agreement that has been in place since 2004.
In the agreement, the district consented to issuing up to $85 million of bonds to support redevelopment projects in the city’s downtown and textile corridors, where the city has tax increment financing districts, a public financing method that allows the rehabilitation of potentially blighted areas. They planned to consolidate the two corridors into one.
The lawsuit states that the district relinquished future property tax revenue that it would have received to help finance the redevelopment projects.
The city has four TIF districts listed. The textile corridor covers Knowledge Park, situated just north of downtown, which is a priority area for the city that has boomed in recent years with the Sports and Event Center, Power House Food Hall, apartments, hotels and restaurants.
According to the lawsuit, the school district expected to receive concessions from the city as part of the agreement, including educational opportunities at Knowledge Park, the sale of the former Edgewood Elementary School and revised rules around utility rates.
But two years later, the lawsuit claims that the city has failed to follow through on its promises.
The school district said the city hasn’t provided educational programming at Knowledge Park. The school district also claims it expected to receive job-shadowing, apprenticeship and mentoring opportunities.
The lawsuit alleges that the city rezoned the former Edgewood Elementary School, owned by the school district, to a designation that wasn’t agreed upon by the district. The lawsuit argues that the rezoning “devalued” the property. The elementary school was once slated to become more than 200 homes for affordable housing units, but the lawsuit states it was never sold.
Since 2020, the lawsuit claims that the city charged the school district for more than $10 million in electric costs, which is allegedly greater than what the city purchased wholesale. The school district said the city added extra meters to increase the electric cost. It called the electric rates “unregulated and artificially high” in the lawsuit.
“There is no monitor, check, or supervisor to determine whether the City charges for resold electrical power are reasonable or warranted,” the lawsuit states. “Essentially, the City has turned the re-sale of electricity it purchases at wholesale prices into a profit center with no one looking over its shoulder.”
In its statement prepared for the council meeting, the city said it “met all obligations required under this agreement with the district,” arguing that it helped the district save $6 million in costs.
“We are disappointed with the current dispute and have made every reasonable effort to work with the School District — as we have always done in the past,” the statement reads. “Regrettably, the School District has chosen this aggressive, confrontational tactic to bully the City and extract terms more favorable for the School District than the terms provided in the parties’ written and executed agreement.”
In the school’s press release, Miller said that the district “tried to work with the city to resolve this” over the past two years, but she said the district felt like it had no other step forward.
“This is our last option,” she said, “to make sure our students are given what the agreement states they should be afforded.”
This story has been updated to clarify details in the 2020 agreement and the state of the former Edgewood Elementary School.
The district claims the city is charging them a fee for electricity that's not consistent with South Carolina law or any previous agreement.ROCK HILL, S.C. — The Rock Hill School District is now suing the City of Rock Hill over what it calls "funding issues."The district claims the city is charging them a fee for electricity that's not consistent with South Carolina law or any previous agreement. The district wants millions of dollars...
The district claims the city is charging them a fee for electricity that's not consistent with South Carolina law or any previous agreement.
ROCK HILL, S.C. — The Rock Hill School District is now suing the City of Rock Hill over what it calls "funding issues."
The district claims the city is charging them a fee for electricity that's not consistent with South Carolina law or any previous agreement. The district wants millions of dollars in tax revenue returned back to them after the alleged failed promises by the city.
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Rock Hill Schools issued the following statement:
“The school district can be a partner in economic development when it benefits our students, but our only mission is to educate our students; the District’s goal is not being the financial mechanism for the City’s development projects. We are disappointed in the lack of follow-through from the City of Rock Hill, and are forced to take this step in order to protect the educational future of our students,” said Helena Miller Chairman of the Board of Trustees. Rock Hill Schools has historically partnered with the City of Rock Hill and County Council in several Tax Incremental Financing Plans or TIFs, and the Downtown TIF in question was a consolidation of many of these past agreements. The school district forfeited $85 million dollars of tax income from the Knowledge Park area over a thirty-year time period in exchange for a series of agreed-upon terms such as educational space in Knowledge Park for student education and experiences, help with zoning on a property that the District hopes to sell, and renegotiation of utility rates among others.
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As of today, the City of Rock Hill has failed to report their spending of the school district’s money in a requested independent audit, the zoning issue is still not resolved, there is no opportunity for students to learn in a dedicated space in Knowledge Park and the City of Rock Hill has fraudulently overcharged the district for utilities for the sum of $23 million dollars. “We entered this agreement in good faith, and it is heartbreaking to see our students being taken advantage of. We have tried to work with city officials to resolve this over the past two years, and this is our last option to make sure our students are given what the agreement states they should be afforded,” Miller said
The City of Rock Hill has issued the following statement:
"The City of Rock Hill and the Rock Hill School District # 3 have enjoyed a long history of cooperation and mutual assistance to benefit their common taxpayers and serve the children of Rock Hill. Our children are our primary mission and should be the focus of every decision we make. The leadership of the school district has clearly lost its focus with regards to this mission, This dispute stems from agreement related to critical textile xxxxx revitalization project which has been a resounding success for the people of Rock Hill. The city has met all obligations required under this agreement with the school district, an agreement that has already resulted in the city providing over $6-million in cost savings for the school district since 2020.
“We are disappointed with the current dispute and have made every reasonable effort to work with the school district, as we always have done in the past, Regrettably the school district has chosen to file a lawsuit and this aggressive confrontational tactic to bully the city and extract terms more favorable for the school district than the terms provided for in the party's written, understood and executed agreement. "The school district's complaint against the city is without merit and the city will address the legal merits in the legal forum. The city does not believe in addressing, through a public back and forth, its differences with another party and will hold to that going forward."
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