County advisors outline $39 million bond plan and policy changes to fund jail, animal-control facility

Camden County commissioners heard detailed financing scenarios and policy recommendations July 1 from Davenport & Company as the county considers a new public safety complex (including the county jail) and a separate animal-control facility.

Courtney Rogers, senior vice president at Davenport & Company, and colleague Christopher Holt reviewed the county’s fiscal trends, fund-balance position and two borrowing scenarios they said would be appropriate if the county decides to issue long-term debt to pay for both projects.

The advisers told commissioners the estimated project cost is $53 million — roughly $50 million for the jail and $3 million for animal control — and that available SPLOST (special-purpose local-option sales tax) funds could reduce the amount that must be borrowed. Using $4 million earmarked from SPLOST 8 plus a potential $10 million from SPLOST 9, they modeled a likely bond issuance of about $39 million.

Why it matters: Davenport emphasized that the county’s recent growth in its tax digest and a multi-year pattern of surpluses have rebuilt reserves and positioned Camden to borrow at favorable rates if the…