Benton County was granted over $20 million in matching state funds for construction of a new county courthouse. The matching funds enable the state to pay for half of an approximately $40 million new courthouse, with the County funding the remainder.
The State Legislature approved HB 5006 in 2021, granting 50% match to the County.
On Dec. 7, the Board of Commissioners came to a decision to fund the County’s $20.4 million in matching funds using a combination of budget reserves and borrowing, according to a press release from the county.
The county worked with the Oregon Judicial Department, to apply for state matching funds for a new courthouse. The funds will come from the Oregon Capital Construction and Improvement Fund.
The historic Benton County courthouse was built back in 1888 and is no longer capable of meeting current accessibility, safety, and trauma-informed services standards, according to a press release from the County.
Following this announcement, the County will move forward with the state to receive the funding to begin design work on the new courthouse. The County anticipates the project to begin in 2022, with an estimated completion date of July 2025.
A site for the new courthouse has not been identified yet. Currently, program staff and the Board of Commissioners are contemplating a few possible locations, in west and north Corvallis, and a site downtown. According to the County, the Commissioners will have until early 2022 to pick the new site location.
By: Jennifer Williams
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