HB 902

Abstract

Removal of county courthouse; Augusta County; authorization by electorate. Allows Augusta County to hold a referendum on the courthouse removal in 2022, despite the 10-year waiting requirement, if plans are developed for (i) relocating to a newly constructed courthouse in Augusta County and (ii) either (a) the renovation and expansion of the current courthouse in the City of Staunton or (b) the construction of a new courthouse in the City of Staunton. The bill specifies that both plans are to be schematic, prepared by a licensed architect, include good faith estimates of the costs of construction, including necessary acquisition of property, and be made available to the public at least two months before the planned referendum. The result of the referendum shall be binding. The bill also directs the architect preparing the plans to consider options for reducing record storage space requirements and for shared use of facilities within Staunton and to develop a plan for the preservation of the existing courthouse regardless of which plan is chosen. This bill is identical to SB 283.

Removal of county courthouse; Augusta County; authorization by electorate. Allows Augusta County to hold a referendum on the courthouse removal in 2022, despite the 10-year waiting requirement, if plans are developed for (i) relocating to a newly constructed courthouse in Augusta County and (ii) either (a) the renovation and expansion of the current courthouse in the City of Staunton or (b) the construction of a new courthouse in the City of Staunton. The result of the referendum shall be binding.

Removal of county courthouse; Augusta County;authorization by electorate. Allows Augusta County to hold areferendum on the courthouse removal in 2022, despite the 10-yearwaiting requirement, if (i) two new plans are developed for eitherthe construction and removal of the courthouse from the City of Staunton,if the referendum passes, or renovation and expansion of the courthousein the City of Staunton, if the referendum fails; (ii) the plansare made available to the public at least three months prior to theplanned date of the referendum; (iii) the plan for the courthouse remaining in Staunton, if it prevails, shall be a mutual agreementbetween the City of Staunton and Augusta County; and (iv) the result of the referendum shall be binding and the corresponding plan shallbe implemented.