Catoosa County scales back courthouse project - WRCBtv.com | Chattanooga News, Weather & Sports

RINGGOLD, GA (Times Free Press) -- Instead of going whole hog, Catoosa County Commissioners on Tuesday night decided to renovate the aging county courthouse complex in downtown Ringgold in two phases.

They approved the $800,000 first phase and deferred the $1.3 million second phase.

"I think we need to be extremely prudent and fiscally responsible," Commissioner Jim Cutler said. "We can see how the economy progresses; we can always add phase two."

Voters approved $1 million for courthouse repairs in 2009 as part of a special purpose local option sales tax. But because of lower-than-expected retail sales, the tax is expected to generate only $800,000.

Read more on the story from our news partners at the Chattanooga Times Free Press.