Stacey Hamm
for Richland County Auditor
Why Stacey?
Proven Department Leader
Stacey spent 22 years as Deputy Treasurer before being promoted to Richland County Finance Director in 2017. For eight years she has run the Finance Office as its department head. Every vendor paid. Every payroll processed. Every audited financial report signed. She has done the deputy job and the department-head job. The Auditor's office needs someone who has already done both.
Certified Government Finance Officer
Stacey earned South Carolina's top credential for public finance in 1997. Certificate number 74, one of the earliest holders in the program's history. Nearly 30 years later she still holds it. And she went on to serve as president of the Government Finance Officers Association of South Carolina, the organization that administers the CGFO for the entire state.
Lifelong Richland County Resident
Born, raised, and educated in Richland County. Two degrees from USC. From the day she was born to today, Stacey has lived within eight miles of the house where she grew up. Her family, her church, her schools, and her career are all here. Stacey has never left Richland County, and she has never wanted to. She hasn't come back to serve it. She has been serving it the entire time.
Scope & Scale
Stacey has spent her entire career managing the dollars that fund Richland County government. Here is what that looks like in numbers.
In the Treasurer's Office, 1995 to 2017
During her 22 years in the Richland County Treasurer's Office, Stacey was responsible for collections and reconciliation across Richland County's full property tax operation, including:
- $12.7 billion in taxable property value
- 61,947 real property parcels
- $2.54 billion in motor vehicles on the tax rolls
- $1.08 billion utility property tax base
- $618 million business personal property tax base
- $746 million in property taxes levied, with a 93%+ collection rate
As Finance Director, 2017 to Present
Stacey runs the Finance Office that produces the reports for a county operation that includes:
- $925 million in annual revenues
- $1.08 billion net position, the county's worth
- $602 million in outstanding long-term debt
- $290 million in pension and OPEB obligations
- $276 million in annual property tax revenues
- 45% General Fund reserve, more than double what rating agencies require
Sources: Richland County Annual Comprehensive Financial Report FY2025, Richland County CAFR FY2017, and SC Department of Revenue 2017 Factored Preliminary Index of Taxpaying Ability.
Proven Track Record
These aren't campaign promises. These are things Stacey has already done for Richland County.
Top Ratings, Clean Audits, Award-Winning Reports
Since becoming Finance Director in 2017, Richland County has maintained the highest possible credit ratings from both Moody's (Aaa) and S&P Global (AAA), plus clean independent audits and GFOA awards for financial reporting excellence every year. That means lower borrowing costs and confidence that every dollar is accounted for.
Modernized County Financial Systems
Stacey led the implementation of Workday, a modern enterprise platform that replaced the county's outdated financial and HR systems. Faster processing, better accuracy, and a foundation for the kind of digital-first operations she'll bring to the Auditor's office.
Launched Electronic Billing
No more waiting on a paper bill in the mail. Stacey implemented e-billing for county sewer services, giving residents the option to receive and pay bills online. It's the kind of common-sense modernization every county office should have.