Ground was broken on the Montgomery County Justice Center project on June 15 of this year. On August 19, officials in the county voted to fund the second phase of the project.

The money will cover positions including general contractor as well as mechanical, electrical and plumbing construction, local media reports.

Deputy Chief Operating Officer Barba O’Malley said that 238 companies viewed the proposal and 19 submitted bids.

The project will see the restoration of the existing courthouse, revitalization of the surrounding Hancock Square, and a new six-story, 325,000-square-foot “justice center.” Work is expected to be completed in 2016.

The dissenting commissioner who voted against the funding for Phase 2 had some choice words about the price tag. “I just want to point out that this justice center project was originally supposed to be $220 million and just at this board meeting alone for phase two construction is over $232 million,” Commissioner Joe Gale said.

“There’s no other way to describe that as incredibly reckless spending and this is not fair to the taxpayers of Montgomery County. So I want to justify my continued opposition to this outrageously expensive project,” he added.

Ken Lawrence, the Montgomery County Commissioner Vice Chairman, was far more rosey about the project back in June when it was launched. “The design of the justice center will transform the core of Norristown, transform Hancock Square park and restore a county landmark, our historic courthouse,” he said.