Government

Center Options /
SPLOST
October 11, 2019
GOVERNMENT CENTER/COURTHOUSE 2

 Original Courthouse was a wooden structure which burned down

 Columbus’ second Courthouse was built in 1838-1840 for $36,000
GOVERNMENT CENTER/COURTHOUSE 3

 Third Muscogee County Courthouse was built 1896 for $63,500

 Current Government Center was built in 1969-1970 for $11 million
 Tower = 205,056 sq. ft.
 Wings = 72,576 sq. ft.
 Parking Garage = 175,740 sq. ft., 264 spaces
 7 Superior Court Judges and 5 Senior Judges (3 in 1970’s)
 2 State Court Judges (0 in 1970’s)
 1 Municipal/Magistrate Judge (1 each in 1970’s)
 3 Juvenile Court Judges (1 in 1970’s)
 1 Probate Court Judge and 1 Associate Probate Court Judge (1 in 1970’s)
 Administrative Judges
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1896
Courthouse
 5

1896
Courthouse

Ledger-
Enquirer
Photo
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1896
Courthouse

Ledger-
Enquirer
Photo
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1896
Courthouse

Ledger-
Enquirer
Photo
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Ledger-
Enquirer
Photo
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Ledger-
Enquirer
Photo
GOVERNMENT CENTER CHALLENGES 10

 Security and Safety

 Not ADA compliant
 Not able to separate court parties
 One shared elevator for prisoner transport and
inadequate holding cells
 Fire suppression limited to the 1st floor
 Narrow stairwells, no pressurization and internal egress

 Inefficient and failing systems

 Outdated systems (Water, Sewer, Heating, Cooling,
Elevators, Electrical, Drainage, etc.)
 Unable to find replacement parts
GOVERNMENT CENTER SHORT TERM 11

PLAN
 Life Safety Improvements
 Up to $2.8 million authorized by City Council
 Stairwell pressurization (General Contractor on August
27th City Council agenda)
 Fire
alarm system replacement (General Contractor
on August 27th City Council agenda)
 Evaluating existing system to determine full building
sprinkler option
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 Complete Demolition of Wings 13
Option 1: and Garage
Existing Site
New Judicial Center

Renovate Tower for City

Administration (Re-use of
Structure only)

New Parking Garage

 Complete Demolition of 14
Option 2: Tower, Wings and Garage
Existing Site
New Judicial Center

New City Administration

Building

New Parking Garage

 Complete Demolition of Tower, 15
Option 3: Wings and Garage
Existing and New Judicial Center with broader
footprint and fewer stories
New Site
New Judicial Parking Garage

New City Administration Building on a

new site to be determined by the City

On grade parking is assumed

for the Administration Building
 All existing functions of the current
Government Center will move to new 16
buildings on a new site to be determined
Option 4: by the City
New Site
New Judicial Center

New City Administration

Building

Parking Garage or site parking as

determined by site capacity and
requirements of the program
Government Center Options to 17

Study
 Option 2
 EXISTINGSITE. Complete demolition of the tower,
wings, and parking garage. New Judicial Center.
New Administration Building. New Parking
Garage.
 Option 4
 NEWSITE. New Judicial Center. New
Administration Building. New Parking Garage.
Government Center Options to 18

Study
 Government Center Restoration Feasibility
 Includes but not limited to:
 Identifying suitable space for temporary relocation during
renovations
 Cost of relocation
 Retrofitting space to accommodate courtrooms, holding
cells, and offices
 Providing for security at the temporary location
 Relocation of the Information Technology Department
Government Center Options to 19

Study
 Advertise
the Government Center with
conditions
 Resolution of the site for the county seat
 Remain in the tower during construction of the new facility
 Rent during construction of no more than market rate
 Type of development to include residential, hotel, office,
retail, etc. or a combination
 Timeline of the tower renovation, not to remain vacant
 Parking arrangement, shared or independent
Planning Process - Procurement Timeline 20

Proposals Proposals Award Award Award

Release due for due for CM at Project
Design Design CM at Design Risk Mgmt
Services Services Risk Services Contract Contract
RFQ RFQ Services
Release RFQ Contract Proposals
CM at Release due for
Risk RFQ Project Project
Mgmt Mgmt
RFP RFP
DEC-JAN
AUG 2019 SEPT 2019 OCT 2019 NOV 2019 FEB 2020
2020
 TIMELINE FOR 2020 SPLOST
(General Election) 21

Council Call for

Presentation Election
Oct 2019 –
Feb 2020 July 14, 2020 August 4, 2020 April 1, 2021

Mar 2020 – July 28, 2020 November 3, 2020

June 2020
On the Ballot –
Second Series of Council
🗪
General
Public Meetings Resolution
Election 💲
SPLOST Public Meetings 22

6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

 10/24/2019 – CSC Council Chambers (District 1)
 10/28/2019 – South Columbus United Methodist Church (District 3)
 10/29/2019 – Comer Gym (District 8)
 11/4/2019 – Northside Rec Center (District 2)
 11/7/2019 – Shirley B. Winston Rec Center (District 4)
 11/18/2019 – Salvation Army Worship Center (District 6)
 11/19/2019 – CCG Annex (District 7)
 11/21/2019 – Faith Worship Center (District 5)
MUSCOGEE COUNTY SALES TAX RATES 23

IF SPLOST AND ESPLOST APPROVED

CURRENT 07/01/2020 04/01/2021 01/01/2023
STATE 4% 4% 4% 4%
LOST 1% 1% 1% 1%
OLOST 1% 1% 1% 1%
ESPLOST 1% 1% 1% 1%
TSPLOST 1% 1%** 1%**
SPLOST 1%* 1%*
TOTAL 8% 8% 9% 8%

*If SPLOST approved 11/03/2020 State of Georgia # of counties Phenix City,

6% = 4 AL = 9.5%
Current ESPLOST ends 06/30/2020 7% = 68
**If ESPLOST approved 03/2020 7.75% = 1
TSPLOST ends 12/31/2022 8% = 85
8.9% = 2
9% = 1
24
HISTORY OF SALES TAX IN 25

MUSCOGEE COUNTY
TAX EFFECTIVE DATE END DATE
LOST 04/01/1976 N/A
OLOST 01/01/2009 N/A
ESPLOST 01/01/1998 12/31/2002
04/01/2004 12/31/2008
01/01/2010 12/31/2014
07/01/2015 06/30/2020
SPLOST 07/01/1993 03/31/2000
04/01/2000 09/30/2008
TSPLOST 01/01/2013 12/31/2022
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Questions?