Dallas County Deputy Attorney Ron Forsell addressed the Perry Lions Club Monday night and outlined the bond issue on the Nov. 5 general election ballot.
Forsell described the need for new court rooms and the deficiencies of the current courthouse in meeting the needs of the Fifth Judicial District. He said the current courthouse has only three court rooms, and two of those are very small.
As a result of the shortage of court room space, trials have to be moved from the Dallas County courthouse to courthouses in other counties in order to satisfy the constitutional right to a speedy trial. Relocating trials adds extra expenses and more travel time for everyone involved.
Forsell said the proposed new new courthouse would be built next to the new Dallas County Jail on the east side of Adel.
The Perry Lions also learned the current courthouse does not have a secure entrance, so criminals enter alongside the general public, which raises serious safety concerns. The acoustics in the largest courtroom are very poor, and there is a need for video and technological access, said Forsell, who has been a county prosecutor for 10 years.
If the voters approved the proposed bond issue to finance the new courthouse, there will be a tax increase of $15.65 per $100,000 of evaluation for those over age 65 and $18.56 dollars per $100,000 of evaluation for those under age 65.
Ray Harden is the secretary of the Perry Lions Club.
