TRENTON, Ga. — Dade County Commission Chairman/Executive Ben Brandon and Commissioner Lamar Lowery plan to try again Monday to wiggle out of a deadlock over how much the county should spend to resolve its courthouse woes.
A special called meeting Thursday night ended after more than two hours without a decision. The debate is over how much from the projected $18 million from a planned special purpose local option sales tax (SPLOST) to spend on the facility.
“This is probably the best planned and most researched project we’ve ever had, only to have it stopped the way it was with no better suggestion on how to proceed,” Mr. Brandon said. “This is not a good display of leadership.”
Mr. Brandon repeatedly asked the commissioners to suggest a dollar figure to add to the $1.6 million in hand from the 2004 SPLOST for a courts building.
Commissioner Sarah Moore — who is a former Superior Court clerk — said she understands the need for a courthouse. She made a motion to earmark $3.8 million from the new SPLOST, but her proposal got no backers.
No one else made a motion, so Mr. Brandon adjourned the meeting.
Commissioners must compile a specific list of capital projects with funding amounts to appear on the SPLOST referendum. If voters approve it on July 15, a yes vote would continue the 1 percent tax in 2009.
Most of the 40 or so residents at Thursday night’s meeting opposed adding more money for a courts facility, though they agree the current 80-year-old courthouse should be replaced or expanded.
Commissioners broached the possibility of borrowing money instead of using SPLOST funds, but the crowd had vocal opposition for that too.
Mr. Lowery said the public thinks it is “too much, too fast.”
But stake holders such as Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit District Attorney Herbert “Buzz” Franklin said the current conditions are unacceptable.
“We need the room,” Mr. Franklin said. “The clerk is out of space. There is no fireproof vault.”
Mr. Brandon said spending $3.8 million of the SPLOST to build a $5.4 million courthouse is the most cost effective option, accommodating future growth.
Resident Monda Wooten said it’s too much.
“I’m not sold on the courthouse,” she said. “All I’m saying is we can’t afford it. If we can’t afford it, we can’t afford it.”
The projects list must be settled by April to be ready for a July 15 referendum, Mr. Lowery said.
If no agreement is reached, officials may have to wait for the referendum, and risk letting the current tax lapse.
Mr. Lowery and Mr. Brandon will meet Monday to find a solution.
“I would like to see me and Ben get the numbers worked out,” Mr. Lowery said.
