Cobb courthouse ‘not coming in within budget’

The new Cobb County Courthouse has a new look, and a higher price tag.

Cobb leaders learned this on a busy second day of a three-day management retreat at Lake Lanier Islands where the focus was on important projects and key issues.

The retreat at Legacy Lodge conference center, formerly Emerald Pointe, ends for county officials Friday.

Among the issues was an update on projects paid for with proceeds from an increase in the sales tax, approved by voters in 2005. The sales tax increase has generated some $385.4 million in revenue for building and road projects. Those include an expansion of the Cobb County detention center that is projected to be completed by November and construction of a new Superior Court building in downtown Marietta.

The original six-story courthouse was budgeted at $55 million. The addition of a seventh floor and security enhancements, including prisoner-only elevators, will increase the cost, officials said.

“The courthouse is not coming in within budget,” commission Chairman Sam Olens said. “The estimate was pre-Brian Nichols.”

The county is seeking a guaranteed maximum price on the project from Turner Construction, which was awarded the courthouse contract.