The Athens-Clarke County Mayor and Commission discussed the cost of the new Judicial Center at an agenda setting meeting Wednesday evening.
Additional funding for the construction of the Judicial Center could come from future SPLOST or millage rate increases. Over $75 million has been allocated to the project from the SPLOST 2020 project budget. The total cost is expected to be over $200 million.
Commissioner John Culpepper said at the meeting that the site selection of 120 W. Dougherty Street is helping to lower costs.
“We’re using actual land that we own versus going out and trying to purchase something, you know,” said Culpepper. “When we were looking at the other pieces of property, that was stuff that we didn’t own, and I think that’s a huge benefit because if we weren’t, if we were actually buying the land, the cost would even go higher.”
Athens-Clarke County residents will have two more opportunities to comment on the budget for the upcoming fiscal year on June 2 and June 4 at 6 p.m. at City Hall.
