The multi-million dollar proposal failed last year after receiving 49% of “yes” votes.

ADEL, Iowa — Dallas County voters are set to decide the fate of a $66.3 million proposal for a second courthouse on Tuesday, Nov. 4.

Last year, a nearly identical bond referendum plan received 49% of “yes” votes, below the 60% threshold to pass. County officials say although last year’s vote failed, they’re confident this time around will be different.

The new courthouse would double the number of courtrooms, going from six to 12. The proposal calls for keeping the current courthouse for civil cases whereas the new one would be for criminal cases.

“We used to open around 11,000 cases a year in 2014, 2015. We’re now opening almost 16,000 cases a year,” District Court Judge Chuck Sinnard said.

Sinnard said a 2017 study found that similar-sized counties like Black Hawk had far more courtrooms.

“It’s been pretty static growth there for quite some time,” Sinnard said. “Dallas County will probably pass it, population wise, in the next four to five years. Black Hawk County currently has 13 courtrooms in their courthouse.”

This year, the Dallas County Board of Supervisors approved putting the bond on the ballot a month earlier than they did last year.

“After it got approved to be put on the ballot, we made some effort to get the word out there about the facts, the caseload, the need for it in Dallas County,” Sinnard said. “We’re hoping this time around that there’s a little more timeframe here.”

The budget for this year’s plan is roughly $7 million more expensive than last year’s proposal.

“From discussions that I’ve been present on with the people that have more first hand knowledge, it’s basically an increase in materials due to possibly inflation or other things,” Sinnard said.

For a home valued at $200,000, the bond would raise property taxes by roughly $36.89 annually. The new courthouse would be located near the Dallas County Law Enforcement Center on Highway 6.

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