South Carolina's Supreme Court has agreed take a case challenging the state's authority to conduct the GOP's first-in-the-South presidential primary in January.

Papers are due in court next week.

Beaufort, Chester, Greenville and Spartanburg counties says the state Election Commission lacks the authority to run the primary and that it can't force them to pick up part of the tab.

The counties estimate the primary will cost $2 million, with state and the state Republican Party picking up about $1.3 million or about 65 percent.

State Attorney General Alan Wilson agreed the state Supreme Court should take up the case. Wilson argues the state has the authority to run the primary because it was included in the state budget law.