Sumter County Council approves $700,000 from reserve fund for Magnolia Building renovation; one member objects

Sumter County Council on Nov. 8 approved using up to $700,000 from the county reserve fund to award a contract to Hawkins and Kolb to renovate the Magnolia Building, including asbestos abatement.

The Fiscal, Tax and Property Committee recommended the measure after an executive session. County staff said the renovation would create space for Probation and Parole, the Department of Juvenile Justice, Clemson Extension, Voter Registration, and additional storage and future office space. The County Administrator noted the fund balance was approximately $19,000,000 and that a separate request to use $1,000,000 of the fund balance to help balance the budget had been made; if $700,000 is drawn for Magnolia, staff reported an estimated remaining balance of about $17,341,000. Bids are valid for 30 days and the vendor estimates an eight‑month completion timeline.

Council approved the recommendation; Councilman Eugene R. Baten voted in opposition and explained his 'no' vote on the record. Baten said the reserve fund is larger than necessary and urged that some reserve funds be used to raise county employee salaries, citing low pay for detention staff (he referenced a $33,000 annual figure and said the detention center is '40% manned'), which he argued presents a public‑safety and recruitment concern.

Why it matters: The renovation repurposes county-owned space to consolidate multiple county services and addresses facility needs (including asbestos abatement). The vote also surfaced a policy debate about priorities for reserve funds and county employee compensation.

What happens next: Council approved the recommendation; a three‑reading ordinance and public hearing will be scheduled to effect the budget adjustment required to allocate the funds.