St. Joseph County Commission approves $6M tax bond for courthouse restoration amid public opposition

The St. Joseph County Commission Tuesday narrowly approved up to $6 million for a tax bond to fund ongoing renovations at the county courthouse, despite significant opposition from residents concerned about potential tax increases and government spending.

The resolution, which was adopted with a 4-3 vote, authorizes the county to issue general obligation limited tax bonds to finance courthouse improvements. The bonds will be repaid over time from existing county funds, with interest payments made twice a year. While some residents feared a tax hike, County Chair Jared Hoffmaster assured them the bond would be covered within the county’s budget and would not result in an additional tax levy.

Community Pushback Over Spending and Taxes

During the meeting, held at the historic courthouse in Centreville, a packed room of residents voiced concerns about the project, arguing that the county should not take on additional debt for renovations they felt were unnecessary.

“I just wish to ask the commission to be good stewards of the St. Joseph County taxpayer’s dollars and keep what needs to be done,” said Jim Susabil, a Three Rivers resident. “But please don’t put us in a burden that we don’t need to have.”

Other residents criticized the scope of the renovations, questioning whether all proposed updates were essential. Victoria Stedman, a former government employee from Sturgis, described some of the planned upgrades as cosmetic rather than functional.

“These include enlarging offices, changing paint colors, and adding special desks and chairs,” Stedman said. “In my many years as a public employee, these were never addressed in my personal workspace.”

She also raised concerns about the financial impact on taxpayers, adding, “Instead of enjoying our retirement, we now have to save up more money to pay property taxes. For some, that means choosing between paying taxes or buying groceries.”

Some residents also expressed concerns that extensive renovations could strip the courthouse of its historical character.

“We spent all this money, and someday we’ll say, now we have this 190-year-old building that has lost its character and history,” said Greg Traybult of Sturgis.

In a Facebook post following Tuesday’s meeting, Hoffmaster assured the general public that the historic courthouse would not be affected, as the proposed renovations will be take place in the “new” courthouse.

“The historic courthouse is not being touched,” Hoffmaster wrote. “The ‘new’ courthouse is 50 years old and needs major renovation due to health concerns (black mold), security concerns, structural integrity concerns, workflow issues and just general overall maintenance issues that come with a 50-year-old building. We also have some very expensive items that will help bring the building up to code that we can’t avoid.”

Officials defend the project

While public sentiment leaned against the bond, county officials and employees argued that the renovations were necessary to create a safe and functional workspace.

Prosecutor Deborah Davis emphasized the current courthouse is outdated and inadequate for employees.

“The courthouse renovation has always been a tough decision—we just need a usable space,” Davis said.

In response to concerns about taxes, Hoffmaster clarified the nature of the bond, explaining that it is a limited tax bond, meaning it must be repaid from the county’s existing operating budget rather than through a direct tax increase.

“By statute, a millage cannot be used for this. It has to be paid from our normal operating budget, which is exactly what we’re going to do,” Hoffmaster said.

Despite opposition from the public, the commission moved forward with the bond approval. Fifth District Commissioner Christina Yunker, who voted against the resolution, voiced her concerns.

“This decision was made despite overwhelming opposition from numerous county taxpayers who attended our meeting,” Yunker said. “This reflects a clear disconnect between the decision made and the will of the people.”

Other commission business

In addition to approving the tax bond, the commission passed a resolution supporting Midwest Energy & Communications in its application for Broadband Equity Access & Deployment (BEAD) Program grant, which could expand high-speed internet access in the county.

The commission also heard annual reports from the circuit, district, and probate court judges, as well as from the public defender’s office regarding their 2024-25 operations.

Najifa Farhat is a staff reporter for Watershed Voice.