Lane County unveils proposed $252 million courthouse

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) – A proposed new Lane County courthouse carries an estimated price tag of a quarter-billion dollars.

The Register-Guard reports the county unwrapped the $252 million project Tuesday as elected commissioners took the first tentative step toward asking voters in May to approve a bond measure that would likely pay for the majority of the cost.

The county is counting on state lawmakers chipping in $94 million toward the project. Lawmakers have already committed $6.4 million, and Gov. Kate Brown’s budget proposal includes another $87.6 million, subject to lawmakers’ approval during next year’s legislative session.

That leaves $158 million in local funding that county officials must secure for the project to move forward.

The proposed courthouse would be built on the former Eugene City Hall lot and accommodate 18 state-run courtrooms, up from the current 15, as well as the district attorney’s office, parole and probation, victim services and sheriff’s office. At 297,000 square feet, the proposed building would be more than double the size of the current facility.