Dade County Redesigns Elections Building to Cut Costs

Dade County’s planned elections building is moving forward with a redesigned footprint that county officials say will save taxpayers more than $1 million while still delivering a secure, long-lasting facility.

Commissioners received a monthly construction update from Robert Roberts–owner of Robert Roberts LLC, the firm overseeing the project–outlining how the original design was scaled back after initial cost estimates came in higher than expected. The original concept called for a two-story building of roughly 12,000 square feet that included an event space. After reviewing the numbers, the project team worked with county officials and the architect to redesign the structure into a smaller, single-story building focused strictly on its core purpose.

“By cutting the building in half, you don’t necessarily cut the price in half, but I felt confident you could cut at least $1 million from it,” Roberts said. “We actually cut more.”

The project is now expected to come in at roughly $1.7 million, down from an initial bid that exceeded $3 million, with additional cost-saving measures still being reviewed.

The process used to reach that number is known as “value engineering,” a common approach in public construction projects when costs come in higher than anticipated. Rather than scrapping a project or moving forward at a higher price, governments often rework designs to reduce square footage, simplify features or adjust site layouts while preserving the building’s essential functions.

In this case, that meant eliminating the second floor and removing a first-floor event space that had been part of the original plan. It also meant revising the site layout. According to the presentation, the rear drive area was removed because it was no longer necessary, and sewer and water lines were rerouted through the building. 

For taxpayers, the redesign has a direct financial impact. The elections building is being paid for entirely through Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) dollars, meaning the project is funded by a voter-approved 1 percent local sales tax as opposed to property taxes.

County officials have said keeping the project within a lower budget helps ensure SPLOST funds can stretch further across other county needs, such as roads, public safety and infrastructure improvements.

“This is exactly what taxpayers expect us to do,” said Commissioner Bob Woods. “When costs come in high, you go back, sharpen the pencil, and figure out how to get the job done without overspending.” 

While the building has been reduced in size, Roberts emphasized that certain features cannot be compromised because of the building’s purpose. As an elections facility, the structure must meet higher standards for both security and environmental control.

“A couple things drive up the cost of a building like this,” Roberts said. “Security is a big deal, and moisture control is a big deal. You don’t want your ballots getting mold or have a moisture problem.”

To address those concerns, the project includes an upgraded HVAC system designed to better control humidity and protect sensitive materials like ballots and voting equipment. Those systems add to the upfront cost, but county officials say they are essential to avoiding much larger problems down the road.

The building will also feature what Roberts described as a high-end roofing system designed to extend the life of the structure and reduce long-term maintenance costs.

“It’s a little more costly to do it that way, but that roof will be there for a very long time,” he said. “This thing has at least 50, maybe 75 or 100 years on it. So this roof is a top-notch roof.”

In other words, while the county is trimming the size of the building, it is still investing in durability and long-term protection of a critical public function.

The main tradeoff in the redesign is the loss of the event space that had been included in the original concept. Roberts said that space was removed to keep the focus on the building’s primary mission and to bring the overall cost down.

“What you’ve lost is the event space, but we’ve preserved the integrity for an elections building,” he said. “We gave up the event space, but you still have a great elections building.”

For county leaders, the update reflects a balancing act that is familiar in local government: delivering necessary public facilities while still acting as good stewards of the taxpayers. Through the value engineering phase, officials say the redesigned plan shows how cost overruns can be addressed through careful planning rather than simply passing higher costs along to the public.

In addition, the Dade County Board of Commissioners at their February 5 meeting:

• Approved an intergovernmental agreement between itself, the city of Trenton, the Water and Sewer Authority and the Industrial Development Authority laying out how proceeds from the proposed sales tax would be divided and managed.
• Set May 19 of this year for the SPLOST referendum vote.
• Announced the hiring of a new county elections supervisor
• Approved a proclamation recognizing Optimist Day for the Trenton-Dade Optimist Club to be observed the first Thursday of February, highlighting the club’s mission to “better the youth, the community and ourselves.”
• Approved a proclamation declaring Arbor Day on the third Friday of February (Feb. 20, 2026), noting the holiday’s origins in 1872, Georgia’s first observance in 1890, and the environmental, social and economic benefits of trees. The county will mark the occasion with a week of activities, including free tree seedlings and educational events.
• Approved a proclamation designating Severe Weather Preparedness Week for Feb. 2–6, 2026, encouraging residents to prepare for threats such as flash flooding, severe thunderstorms and tornadoes.
• Approved a proclamation recognizing American Heart Month for the entire month of February 2026, including a “Go Red” day on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026, to raise awareness about heart disease.
• Approved a proclamation recognizing National Future Farmers of America (FFA) Week for Feb. 21–28, 2026. FFA is an intracurricular student organization for those interested in agriculture and leadership. 
• Approved Resolution R-07-26 appointing Clifton Reasor to the Special Use Permit Board representing District 5 for a four-year term.
• Approved Resolution R-08-26 reappointing Kathy Ragon to the Department of Family and Children Services Board for a five-year term. Ragon previously served as Dade County DFCS Director.
• Approved Resolution R-09-26 appointing Ann Brown to the Trenton-Dade Animal Center Advisory Board, a newly created board that will oversee construction of the new facility and make recommendations for improvements.
• Approved Resolution R-10-26 appointing Amy Garrett to the Trenton-Dade Animal Center Advisory Board.
• Approved Resolution R-11-26 appointing Jimmy Stewart to the Trenton-Dade Animal Center Advisory Board.
• Approved Resolution R-12-26 appointing Debbie Tringle to the Trenton-Dade Advisory Board.
• Approved Resolution R-16-26 authorizing Dade County to participate in the Georgia County Internship Program for Summer 2026. The program provides grant funding for paid internships, with interns eligible to work up to 200 hours at a minimum of $15 per hour, and includes reimbursement for wages and related employment costs. County staff will recruit, supervise and evaluate interns in accordance with program and county guidelines.
• Approved Resolution R-18-26 imposing a 90-day moratorium on new commercial solar panel facilities in unincorporated Dade County while the county reviews and drafts new regulations. The measure halts the acceptance and processing of permits for large-scale solar projects intended to sell or distribute power or covering more than 0.5 acres. The moratorium does not apply to rooftop or small-scale systems serving homes or farms, nor to facilities exempt under state or federal law.
• Approved an ordinance amending the county’s Special Use Permit Ordinance to require special use permits for solar power generation systems. The amendment exempts small-scale, single-family, farm, integrated and rooftop systems, and adds new review standards for larger projects, including stormwater runoff, 150-foot setbacks, vegetation buffers and financial assurances for decommissioning and site restoration.
• Heard from Commissioner Melissa Bradford who reported on Trenton-Dade Animal Center operations for January 2026, noting 48 animals served, including 35 dogs and 13 cats, with an average length of stay of 12 days. The shelter recorded 23 foster placements totaling 4,244 hours of care, 20 spay and neuter surgeries, 49 vaccines, six cats in the trap-neuter-return program and 15 animals transported. Bradford also outlined public services including the pet food pantry, low-cost veterinary care, microchipping, adoptions and animal control outreach. She also promoted a county tire recycling event scheduled for May 2, 2026, at the Dade County Waste and Transfer Station.
• Heard from Commissioner Phillip Hartline who reported on parks and recreation activities, announcing that recreational baseball signups run through Feb. 17 and recreational soccer signups through Feb. 27, with practices beginning shortly thereafter. Hartline said crews are preparing baseball fields by laying sod and applying field conditioner He reported that middle school baseball begins Feb. 9, with home games later in the month.
• Heard from Commissioner Bob Woods who reported on Dade County senior services, outlining programs focused on quality of life, fellowship, nutrition and transportation. Woods said 972 meals were served to county residents in January, including 595 meals at the senior center and 377 to homebound residents. He also reviewed February activities for seniors including guest speakers, singing groups, cooking classes, special events, birthday celebrations, field trips and shopping trips.
• Heard from Commissioner Bill Pullen who reported on roads, emergency services and elections, updating the board on the U.S. 11 bridge at Squirrel Town Creek, where the temporary bridge has been removed and work continues on sloping sides, with guardrails and resurfacing planned. Pullen also reported that GDOT will close the Slygo Road bridge over I-24 beginning Feb. 23, 2026, for construction of a new bridge, with traffic detoured for approximately 270 days. He reviewed emergency services call activity for January 2026 and provided election information.
• Heard from Chairman and County Executive Don Townsend who reported on recent meetings, community events and upcoming transportation impacts, including his participation in a Georgia Initiative for Community Housing orientation, a multi-county opioid meeting, Emergency Management Agency winter weather briefings, a Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit drug court graduation, a human trafficking awareness event and a Trenton-Dade Animal Center meeting. Townsend also noted the grand opening of The Fowler Family Bin Store at 12596 North Main Street in Trenton and a ribbon cutting for the Shed on the Brow Gift Shop at 1045 Brow Road. He also reiterated that the Georgia Department of Transportation will close the Slygo Road bridge over Interstate 24 beginning Feb. 23 for construction of a new bridge, with traffic to be detoured for approximately nine months.