South Carolina Comptroller General
The comptroller general of South Carolina is a constitutional officer in the executive branch of the U.S. state of South Carolina. Forty individuals have held the office of comptroller general since 1800. The office has been held by Brian J. Gaines since May 12, 2023, who was appointed by Governor Henry McMaster as a recess appointment following the resignation of Richard Eckstrom on April 30, 2023. McMaster appointed Gaines to avoid a constitutional crisis; since the office was vacant, no person could authorize the distribution of funds. The South Carolina Code of Laws of 1976, Title 11, Chapter 3 describes the responsibilities of the Office of the Comptroller General. History At the turn of the 19th century, the state of South Carolina's finances were marked by confusion, with officials having difficulty in ascertaining its debts. In response, the office of comptroller general was created with Paul Hamilton as the inaugural holder. In 1948, the comptroller general was added to the State Budget and Control Board, a body tasked with helping to craft the state's budget. The body was changed to the State Fiscal Accountability Authority in 2015. Election and structure South Carolina is one of twelve states in the country