Meriwether County authorizes up to $1M SPLOST transfer and approves $2.02M Phase 1 courthouse contract

The Meriwether County Board of Commissioners on Nov. 25 authorized staff to transfer up to $1,000,000 from the general fund special projects account to SPLOST to cover immediate costs for courthouse renovations and approved a guaranteed maximum price of $2,019,979.14 for Phase 1 of the courthouse exterior and roofing work.

County staff said the total courthouse work exceeds $2 million when including HVAC and other items and proposed a phased approach. "We can transfer balances from the general fund special projects account to SPLOST and then reimburse the county back," staff said, adding the county expects to begin reimbursing when the 2026 SPLOST distribution arrives and that there is one year before a transfer would be treated as a loan.

Commissioners approved the River City Contracting proposal for Phase 1, not to exceed the stated guaranteed maximum price. Staff indicated work could start within two weeks of approval and asked for authority to manage transfers up to the $1,000,000 cap; commissioners approved that direction and asked staff to return if additional funding is needed.

The board also authorized Phase 2 HVAC design work so staff can return with a guaranteed maximum price for the third-floor HVAC work. Staff said they would follow standard county contracting procedures and return contracts for Board of Assessors/legal review where appropriate.

The board's actions move the courthouse renovation from planning toward implementation; staff and contractors must finalize contract details, schedule mobilization, and ensure SPLOST reimbursement lines are clear before construction progresses.

Next steps: staff to negotiate and finalize contracts with River City Contracting, provide a timeline for work, and report back to the board on SPLOST reimbursements and any additional funding needs.