Split opinions over cost, timing and priorities stall $11.1M county contribution to long-planned project
By Delayna Earley
The Island News
Beaufort County Council has effectively pulled the plug on its previously approved funding for the University of South Carolina Beaufort’s planned convocation center, reversing course on a project that once carried a split but decisive vote.
During its latest meeting, council voted down two ordinances that would have provided a combined $11.1 million toward the project, halting the county’s financial participation, at least for now.
The ordinances, which were taken up together, failed to gain support after already being defeated at the Finance, Administration and Economic Development Committee level by a 4-5 vote.
The funding package included $1.6 million from general fund sub-funds and $9.5 million reallocated from a previously issued general obligation bond tied to the county’s law enforcement center project.
Shift from earlier support
The vote marks a notable reversal from last year, when council approved the same $11.1 million contribution following a split vote, positioning the county as a key partner in the long-discussed project.
At the time, the convocation center was pitched as a multi-use facility that would support USCB athletics, graduation ceremonies and community events, with state lawmakers committing roughly $47 million toward construction.
But in the months since, concerns over timing, priorities and long-term costs have grown among council members.
Concerns over cost, timing and priorities
Councilman Logan Cunningham, who has consistently opposed the project, reiterated his concerns during the latest discussion, pointing to infrastructure needs and future funding uncertainty.
“The idea sounds great,” Cunningham said. “I don’t think it’s the right time.”
He also raised concerns that the initial $11.1 million would not be the county’s final contribution.
“They already said they’re going to ask us for more to get to that $20 million,” he said, adding that county funds should instead prioritize roads and existing residents.
Traffic impacts near the proposed site, located along the heavily traveled U.S. 170 and S.C. 278 corridor, were also cited as a concern.
Supporters highlight long-term investment
Not all council members agreed.
Councilman Mark Lawson voiced continued support for the project, pointing to the role USCB has played in expanding access to higher education locally.
“I think that USCB has been a very, very important part of our community,” Lawson said, noting that the university allows students to stay close to home for college.
Supporters have long argued the convocation center would be an investment in economic development and quality of life, with potential to attract events and generate revenue.
What happens next
With the ordinances failing to move forward, the county’s funding commitment is now off the table, leaving a gap in the project’s financing plan.
It remains unclear whether USCB or its partners will pursue alternative funding sources or return to council with a revised proposal.
For now, the vote signals a pause, and possibly a turning point, in a project that has been years in the making and remains a point of division among county leaders.
Delayna Earley, who joined The Island News in 2022, formerly worked as a photojournalist for The Island Packet/The Beaufort Gazette, as well as newspapers in Indiana and Virginia. She can be reached at delayna.theislandnews@gmail.com.