As Pulaski County solicits bids for its Justice Center project, some county officials are voicing their opposition. Auditor Laura Wheeler told the county council Monday that she wants no part of the project and asked to be taken off the bond ordinance.
“What I really have a problem with on this bond is the total objective,” Wheeler said. “The objective is the renovation of the Courthouse and we haven’t even touched it, and we’re getting ready to spend $6 million on the Justice Center. I find this totally out of line for what this county needs.”
The project would add a total of 7,300 square feet to the building, while part of the existing structure would be renovated. But it would also come at a time when Pulaski County landowners are already facing a significant property tax hike.
Wheeler said that a property taxpayer who paid $600 last year will see that bill go up to $800 this year, due to the income tax restructuring. That would go up to $900 next year if the Justice Center bond goes through, according to Wheeler, and up to $1,000 in 2023 if the Courthouse bond goes through. She said the county can’t depend on solar farms to bring in new revenue, due to ongoing litigation, and the council hasn’t done enough to cut the budget.
“And this bond, in my opinion, almost makes me sick to my stomach every time I think about it,” Wheeler added.
Some council members wanted to revisit the idea of moving Circuit Court into the Justice Center without expanding it, while others noted that it wasn’t considered feasible for the court’s space needs.
In the end, the council voted five-to-one to hold off on any action on the revised bond ordinance, until they can meet in a special joint session with the county commissioners. The ordinance wasn’t actually up for final approval anyway, but was being presented on first reading.
The council also narrowly voted down the first step in letting county officials spend the $5.6 million in bond proceeds. The additional appropriation wasn’t actually up for final approval, either. But a motion just to advertise notice of the request ended in a three-to-three tie, blocking it from moving forward.
