GILES COUNTY, Tenn. — The Giles County budget committee debated financing options for a planned courthouse renovation, weighing 10-, 15- and 20-year bond terms before several commissioners expressed a preference for a 15-year term as a compromise between affordability and fiscal responsibility.

Financial advisor Ashley McNally said the county ‘‘holds a strong’’ credit rating and that status should help secure competitive interest rates for any bond issuance. Committee members discussed the trade-offs among shorter terms with higher annual payments and longer terms that would reduce yearly costs but extend debt service.

The committee also recommended a resolution to increase annual tourism-promotion funding from hotel-motel tax revenues by an additional $22,000 to $25,000 to be allocated to the Giles County Chamber of Commerce. ABC director Phil Reese told the committee that the state is encouraging counties to invest more in tourism-related efforts and said the chamber would provide an annual report to the county if the allocation is approved.

If the board adopts the committee’s recommendation, the county will need to finalize bond structure details and formally place any borrowing on a future meeting agenda for authorization. The wrap did not record a formal vote or final action; committee discussion and the recommendation were reported as part of the Pulaski Citizen’s summary of the January 7 print edition.

What’s next: The county budget committee’s recommendation will return to the full board for consideration at a future meeting; no sale of bonds or final allocation had been recorded in the broadcast.