County GovernmentSaturday, November 14
Horry County fired Fire Rescue Chief Joey Tanner over an overtime budget dispute
The 5AM Socastee team
Horry County fired Fire Rescue Chief Joseph Tanner on Tuesday, and a disciplinary document released after a Freedom of Information Act request lays out why. The county alleges a mandatory overtime requirement used about 90% of Horry County Fire Rescue's (HCFR) annual overtime budget in the first four months of the fiscal year, which runs July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.
Overtime spending hit about 90% of its annual budget in four months, the county alleges
90%of the annual overtime budget spent in the first four months, per the county
Sources: WMBF, WBTW, Myrtle Beach Sun News
View as table
| Value | |
|---|---|
| of the annual overtime budget spent in the first four months, per the county | 90% |
The document, dated Nov. 10 and signed by Assistant County Administrator Renee Hardwick, says Tanner "displayed arrogance and a refusal to take any responsibility" when confronted. The Post and Courier reports he was given the option to resign and declined.
- Stated grounds: insubordination, inefficiency and failure to follow instructions
- Interim chief: Deputy Fire Chief Mike Norket
- Permanent chief: search to begin in the coming weeks
- Grievance hearing: offered, but unclear if Tanner will take it
Tanner's tenure ended Nov. 10, and the county released its document Nov. 13
- Dec. 2015Tanner becomes Horry County Fire Rescue chief.
- July 1The county's fiscal year begins.
- Nov. 10The county terminates Tanner, according to its disciplinary document.
- Nov. 13The county releases the document after a records request.
Sources: WMBF, Myrtle Beach Sun News, Post and Courier
Tanner became chief after serving as Georgetown's fire chief. The South Carolina State Association of Fire Chiefs named him the state's best chief in 2023.
Sources: WMBF, WBTW, Myrtle Beach Sun News, Post and Courier