The cost to build a new Polk County Department of Social Services (DSS) building, now in the early phases of construction, is still causing controversy.

Polk commissioners disagree on whether the construction costs for the new building will exceed the budgeted amount of $2 million.

Commissioner Warren Watson showed other commissioners Monday a spreadsheet supporting his projections that the building will exceed the $2 million target cost.

Other commissioners pointed out that the state and federal governments will reimburse the county for some of the expenses of constructing the building, because it will house DSS.

The county is expecting to be reimbursed 61 percent of some costs for the building, including architectural and professional services. Some reimbursements will come back to the county over a 45-year period. The actual cost for the building after reimbursements could be as low as an estimated $750,000.

Polk County Manager Ryan Whitson explained some of the expected reimbursements, saying the reimbursements are confusing and all percentages and paybacks to the county are subject to change by the state and federal governments from year to year. Paybacks have been fairly consistent, though, Whitson says.

The DSS is a confusing animal at best, Whitson said.

Watson asked Monday to discuss “architectural fees regarding prequalifications.” He briefly discussed possible ways to cut costs, then showed a budget on the projector screen that anticipates the county could spend an estimated $2,229,937 on the building.

The bottom line, Watson said, is the county could spend $1.9 million at best and $2.1 to 2.2 million at worst.

Im just trying to keep it within our budget ordinance, said Watson.

Commissioner Ray Gasperson said Watson “is throwing numbers out there that cause confusion.”

Board members, for instance, questioned Watsons estimate of a five percent contingency, since the construction contracts already include a three percent contingency as well as some other items that other board members questioned.

Gasperson said Watson has been creating a false controversy by his actions and misinformation in recent meetings.

If you read the Tryon Daily Bulletin and come to these meetings youd think (the DSS building) is the biggest controversy in the world, Gasperson said. Weve done other projects and havent had any controversy.

Watson said items like furniture that he put into a budget will be a part of the budget whether its done through the current board or the next board.

Id like to be able to budget everything, said Watson. If were going to do it lets get it done now.

Watson said Whitson has done a good job of estimating the countys reimbursements for the project, like getting $90,000 back the first year, but we still as a county need to understand the cost of the building.”

Commissioner Rene McDermott said the county will be reimbursed 61 percent of professional services and Watsons estimations are very misinforming.

Polk County approved a budget ordinance of $2 million a few months ago and so far has spent $148,107 on the project, including $139,000 for architectural fees, $4,845 for the project manager, $4,200 for surveying and $62 for advertisements.

Whitson says there will be additional costs for the project manager that he has not included in the budget estimate.

The county has not yet selected a low bidder for the construction contract because it needs to determine the water pressure first to determine whether a pump is needed, but the two low bids came in at $1,605,755 if a pump is not needed and $1,658,900 if a pump is needed.

Whitsons budget estimates that if the county needs a pump, the budget will be $1,973,750, including the $148,107 in professional services.

Budget estimates without a pump are for $1,920,605, including professional services.

Furniture costs, which are estimated at $150,000, will also be paid back by federal and state reimbursements at a rate of 61 percent over a period of six to seven years. Whitsons budget for reimbursements also includes paying $10,000 to county engineer Dave Odom, but the county had already contracted with Odom in the general fund budget for $40,000 for services for the year.

Whitson has also estimated possible paybacks to the county from state and federal governments, which include a possible $90,345 payback this year and over $24,000 each year for the next 45 years.

After the 45 years of reimbursements, the county is expecting the costs of the building to be between $750,117 and $770,876, depending on whether or not the county needs a water pump.

County engineer Dave Odom is scheduled to do a pressure test reading on Sept. 30 to determine whether or not a pump is needed.

Reimbursements from the state are given only for buildings that house services such as DSS. Reimbursements are not given for land acquisitions nor for space in the building that is not used for DSS services.

The county should also see savings over the buildings lifetime in utility costs because the building will be LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) certified.