Shortly after the mediation ended and the mediator declared an impasse, Myrtle Beach has requested that the stay be lifted on its legal battle with Horry County.  The battle is related to a dispute over hospitality fees.  If the stay is lifted, Myrtle Beach attorney scan amend their original complaint and add additional grounds supporting the city’s challenge to the validity of the fee.

According to court documents, the 1996 ordinance that created the 1.5% fee did not receive the three readings by the Horry County Council that are required before it can be legally adopted.  The city also claims that the rode projects to which the fees were supposed to be applied have been completed.  This means the city met its obligation in mid-February of last year, but the fee continued to be applied.

According to county leaders, the ongoing legal dispute has left them without revenue and no way to pay for interstate roadway work.  

Myrtle Beach filed a lawsuit against Horry County that claimed the county had collected millions in fees illegally.  The two sides headed to mediation in an attempt to reach a settlement, but were not able to o so.  As a matter of fact, at a meeting of members of the county’s governing board, they called the lawsuit “total BS,” “bogus,” “a sham” “a scam” and a “scare tactic.”

During the summer of 2019, Myrtle Beach and other municipalities set up their own fee structure and began collections, prohibiting Horry County from collecting its fees within the municipalities until after the lawsuit was settled.

The case is now due to be heard by the South Carolina Supreme Court at the end of March.