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County official outlines plan for new justice center and possible sales-tax referendum
Summary
A county official at the meeting said the board has authorized plans to go to bid for a roughly 40,000-square-foot justice center and is seeking legislative permission to place a local-option sales-tax referendum on the fall ballot to help pay bond costs.
A county official identified in the transcript as Steve told the meeting the county has moved design plans for a new justice center out for contracting and, if schedules hold, could break ground in August.
Steve said the project would consolidate basic justice functions into a roughly 40,000-square-foot building, with courts on the top floor; the main entry-level would house the sheriff's office, the county attorney's office and community corrections; and the lowest floor would include emergency management and law-enforcement functions plus a 72-hour holding facility. "If things continue to progress as they are, we will likely be breaking ground in August for a new justice center," Steve said.
The official told the meeting the county has submitted a bill to the state legislature requesting permission to put a local-option sales-tax question on the fall ballot to help pay bonds for the project. "Residents of Wasika County would decide yay or nay whether we can use local option sales tax or not," Steve said. He said county leaders favor spreading debt service across all users of county services rather than relying only on property owners.
Steve described the county's strong bond position, saying the county has relatively few outstanding bonds and would be in a favorable position to issue debt for the project. He also said previous renovation attempts of the existing jail proved cost-prohibitive and left unresolved security issues in the century-old courthouse.
Why it matters: The proposal would require legislative permission and voter approval before additional local sales tax revenue could be used to pay bond debt. The project would shift several county services into a secure facility and could change how county functions are organized across the courthouse and adjacent properties.
Next steps: The official said the outcome rests on the legislature's action on the bill and, if approved, a local referendum this fall. The meeting record does not include a formal vote or commitment from the council on the county's legislative request.
