Although the sales tax for a new Santa Rosa County judicial building failed to pass in last week’s general election, the Courthouse Committee of the Milton City Council wants to support voter’s input in keeping the courthouse in downtown Milton.
“Downtown Milton received the most votes in our election,” said Matthew Hargraves, chairman of the committee, during Monday’s City Council meeting.
Hargraves said the downtown area received 17,437 ‘yes’ votes.
“Downtown won in 24 out of 41 voting precincts in Santa Rosa County,” He said.
On behalf of the courthouse committee and the council, Hargraves said he would present the committee’s case along with recent election results before the county commissioners.
“The site selection is complete and that the remaining challenge is how to pay for the new courthouse,” Hargraves said.
Several commissioners have previously stated they would support the location’s decision of the electorate, Hargraves said.
In a regular county commissioner’s meeting on Aug. 14, Santa Rosa County Commissioner Layne Lynchard explained although the referendums for the three potential courthouse locations on the ballot were non-binding, however they did relate to the courthouse sales tax item.
“The sales tax referendum that is associated with this item that will be on the ballot will be tied to a particular location that is approved by the referendum,” Lynchard said at that meeting. “While it is a non-binding referendum as to the location question, once you couple that with the sales tax referendum it becomes binding on this board.”
Milton City Council voted in favor the courthouse committee’s four recommendations at the meeting.
The first recommendation from the committee sought to continue the committee’s effort until such a new judicial facility is built in the downtown area.
Secondly, the committee recommended the city immediately convey the site selection process is complete and the remaining challenge is to paying for the new county courthouse.
The committee also asks the council to thank the public for supporting the downtown location. They also want the city to use any measures, the council deems necessary, to convey their stance in keeping the courthouse in downtown Milton to the media.
Hargraves said the committee will continue to support keeping the courthouse in downtown Milton.
“We will be reporting back to the council with recommendations as to how Milton can stay involved in cooperation with the county with the goal of funding a courthouse and placing it in downtown,” he said. “My personal goal is hold the county commission accountable for the process they employed and for the results at the end of that process.”
Several city officials, including Mayor Wesley Meiss and Councilwoman Ashley Lay, thanked both Hargraves and the committee for their efforts in getting downtown Milton on the ballot.
Councilwoman Mary Ellen Johnson also supported the committee’s directive.
“We should continue our focus on downtown Milton and don’t waiver at all,” she said.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Push to keep courthouse location viable