After years of planning and discussion, design plans for the Henderson County Courthouse and Detention Center have taken a big step forward.

This will end up being the most expensive and expansive project in Henderson County's history and it will be done without raising taxes.

Commissioners went ahead with a design that would cost $158.3 million in a 3-2 vote on Wednesday. The price tag is $55 million less than initial estimates.

The project will include renovations to the existing courthouse and detention center along North Grove Street, and two new additions adding more space.

Chris Todd, Henderson County business and community development director, said the renovations and additions are needed to support a growing county.

"We study that population when we found is a trend within our jail population and it is on a slight increase overtime, not cause there's more criminals, there's just more people, and the same became true of our court spaces," Todd said.

Two commissioners who voted against the proposal had worries about funding other projects in the future.

Regarding the large price tag, there was also talk of making a request to the General Assembly to help with funding.

Todd explained how they are funding the project without raising taxes.

"What we were able to do was look at our debt capacity. And just like your house, right, as you have money that you're paying off, you have the ability to maybe go out and borrow a little bit more without having to expand your overall budget," he said. "Well we found was the capacity to borrow up to $165 million and not have a tax increase related to that borrowing."

The design process is expected to last for another year.

Construction will be done in phases starting with the detention center.

STORY & PHOTO COURTESY OF ABC 13 WLOSHenderson County Commissioners approve design plans for courthouse, detention center (wlos.com)