The Wasatch County Council voted this week to approve bond parameters intended to finance the construction of a new administration building and refinance an existing bond for the ongoing courthouse expansion project. The combined bond amount will not exceed $45 million.
A public hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 18, at 6 p.m., allowing residents to provide comments before the debt issuance is finalized.
Up to $25 million of the bond will be used to cover half of the construction costs for the new Wasatch County administration building, which is expected to begin construction this spring. The remaining portion of the building's cost will be funded through cash reserves.
The new facility aims to consolidate county services that are currently distributed across several buildings and is designed to accommodate a rapidly growing community. Completion of the building is projected for late 2027.
The remainder of the bond funds will be used to refinance a 2024 lease revenue bond from the courthouse expansion project. By refinancing at lower interest rates and consolidating debt, Wasatch County expects savings of more than $1 million. This refinance will maintain the same expiration date as the original bond.
The $23 million courthouse expansion project remains on schedule for completion in August 2026 and is currently within budget. While the county originally bonded for the total cost, the State of Utah will reimburse half of the expense as part of a joint expansion effort.
The approved resolution allows for borrowing up to $45 million to be repaid over 21 years using existing revenue sources and anticipated growth in those streams. No property tax increase is planned or required for this bond. Because this is not a general obligation bond, voter approval is not required.
