Fayette County Administrator says they are working with architect to get cost of proposed new courthouse down

The Administrator for Fayette County says they are working with the project’s architect to get the cost of the proposed new courthouse and jail down.

At Tuesday’s Fayette County Board meeting, Dustin Harmon from Bellwether said that he’s working with the Goldberg group to come up with a reduced cost plan for the project.

As Harmon mentioned, there is some desire to get the overall cost of the project down to where it could be covered just by the possible increased sales tax funding—and that is not the case at this time as other revenues such as from federal prisoners or solar projects would also be needed.  Harmon says they also want to show there would be reduced cost and maintenance in a new, modern building as opposed to the current courthouse.

Harmon says an initial review of the Public Building Committee shows that over the last 4 years the money levied for the county courthouse have increased by 37% out of that committee alone.

Voters will be asked on the April 1st, 2025 ballot whether or not to approve a 1% sales tax increase for the next 35 years with that money used for the construction of a new courthouse and jail.