"By foolishly voting on this court house, when we can least afford it, the commissioners are throwing Bucks Tax payers under the bus," said Bucks County Commissioner, Diane Marseglia.
It has been a hot button issue for a decade; a new Criminal Justice Center.
Everyone agrees the existing Courthouse is over crowed; where three DA staffers can be jammed in a single office and files crowd hallways.
For some the question is how big should the new building be?
Earlier in the week, Judge Alan Rubenstein blasted the $85 million design signaling it falls short of what is needed. Calling it a white elephant; funding it, he said would be throwing money down a rat hole.
"Judge Rubenstein is correct it is a waste of money, and it shouldn't be approved today," said Marseglia.
But unlike Rubenstein, Commissioner Diane Marseglia argues the plan is actually too grand. Given the uncertain economy the lone Democrat on the board wanted to delay the project and look for a smaller cheaper option.
"The truth is we can't afford this. At the very least we need to put this off," said Marseglia.
But Marseglia's two Republican colleagues voted to approve the new center arguing it's 16 new court rooms are needed.
For outgoing commissioner Jim Cawley, soon to be sworn in as Lt Governor it seem to be a reluctant vote.
"I didn't want to build this project. I never did, but the simple reality is, I don't want to, but I have to," said Jim Cawley.
So the die is cast. Bucks County will get its long debated Justice Center.
The hope is for a ground breaking by spring.
