Some have described their dealings with government agencies as similar to going in circles.
And soon in Bucks County, that experience would be almost guaranteed.
Dozens of county departments might be relocated into the rotunda courthouse in Doylestown, where officials hope to reduce costs by shrinking the government’s footprint into a single, circular complex.
A reuse plan for the rotunda could be unveiled in late October or early November, county Commissioner Robert Loughery said Thursday.
“There’s not a lot of magic to it,” Loughery said. “We’re trying to move everybody in, pull them into the existing courthouse, and get some (government office) buildings back on the tax rolls.”
Bucks spends about $1 million a year to lease office space in buildings throughout the county, according to county finance office estimates.
The redesign for the rotunda comes as work continues on the future Bucks County Justice Center. That $85 million construction project is nearly 60 percent complete, and the justice center could open in late 2014, said Gerry Anderson, general services director for the county.
Courtrooms, judges’ chambers and many other criminal justice-related departments are to be relocated into the new justice center. And, those functions currently take up 65 percent of the existing rotunda complex at Broad and Main streets, officials estimate.
In August 2012, the Bucks County commissioners voted unanimously to hire the Dewberry Design Group to prepare a reuse plan for the rotunda.
In March, officials first disclosed details of that reuse plan, saying it could cost anywhere from $17 million to $45 million to refit the old complex, depending on the extent of the changes.
But the eventual price tag could actually be less than $17 million, Commissioner Diane Marseglia said Thursday. Loughery declined to speculate on those costs until the final plan is unveiled this autumn.
“We’ll give that range when we give the update,” said Loughery. “We’ve gone through many recommendations. We’ve looked at multiple options. This plan will show one general recommendation for the future of the building.”
And it won’t happen overnight. Loughery forecast a moving process, which could take two to three years.