Joint City-County Occupancy of Public Buildins
A REPORT
on
JOINT cm-comrrr OCCUPANCY OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS
to the
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
OF ~nm COUNTY ~ KANSAS
BOARD OF em ern-oo:SSIONERS
OF SALINA~ KANSAS
"
George W. Johnson~ Chairman
Carl Ram$ey ~ Mayor
10
Keith Hughes
JoIelvin Thelander
Harold Jaeger
R. Y. Bull
Ralph Exline
Gaylord Sp.angler
March 1961
-.
~. ~
March 10, 1961
Gentlemen:
This report concerns itself with the construction and operation
of combined city and county court houses in various cities and counties
i1\ the United States. It has been prepared in three parts, which are:
1. General Summary
..
2. Synopsis of Articles, which gives pertinent
information extracted from letters,magazine
articles and reports.
,
3. Appendix which includes three complete reports,
a state ,statute, a working agreement, and a
11st of source material.
Respectfully submitted,
.--, .1
,r. . I I /
1._-, .' . / . -,.... .
.,/ J-" ". /
()t; ..(~ fA. /, ./).( --.1.. I':~.;; \..
Dick Preston
Assistant to the City Manager
Salina, Kansas.
GENERAL SUMMARY
There are three types of joint occupancy:
1. Joint ownership.
2. A "Landlord-tenant" relationship.
3. A Building Authority.
Older buildings were generally financed by general obligation
bonds, however, recently the use of a building authority has per-
mitted the use of revenue bonds in some states.
Material available on cost and cost savings does not precise-
ly fit the Salina-Saline County situation, however, an attempt
will be made to associate available cost figures to Salina-Saline
County .
,
The building constructed for Quincy and Adams County, Illinois
comes closer to the Salina'and Saline County situation than ~1
other combined facility. Their city population is 41,450 and the
county population is 64,690; the building was built in 1950; the
building houses city and county offices. court facilities and a
jail. The cost of the building was $1,800,000.
;.
Adjusting the revenue bond figures whioh were presented to
Lincoln, Nebraska, to the QUincy, Il1in01s oonstruction cost, the
yearly cost to both the city and county would approximate $60,000
per year for forty years f~r maintenance, operation, debt, retire-
ment and interest on the debt. Kansas statutes do not permit the
use of building authorities.
The City of Tacoma estimates a yearly savings of $40,194.00
in the combined units of the city-county jail. Adjusting this
figure on a populati on basis, the Salina-Saline County yearly
savi!\gs in jail operation would appronmate $7,000.
These figures must be considered very broad estimates. The
$1,800,000 figure does not include land costs since in Quincy,
Illinois, the building was built on county land. The $80.000
Yiarly cost and could very easily be on the low side since the
report from which these figures were taken was prepared by a
citizens committee who were trying to convince the city and county
that "this really won't cost very much".
...
No dollar and cent breakdowns were given relative to cost
saving in governmental operations. Typical replies to this
question were:
~ .
"The cost savings are in the overhead, land and supplies.
I can't givG you a dollar and cent breakdown because of the ex-
panded governmental operations and population in this area".
(Augusta, Georgia).
"Cost savings are noticeable. We cannot compare .lith old
obsolete structure but by comparing a neighbor city with the
same needs, we have by far a better facility for less money.
Certainly the combined jail is an extreme savings". (Port Huron,
Michigan)
'~ile certain cost savings are certainly realized by joint
governmental tenancy, we h~ve no cost studies ....... We feel
that the real advantage is the convenience to the public and to
the governmental agencies who are located "under one roof".
(Wilmington, Delaware)
Another savings which is difficult to figure is the time
(money) saved by the individual citizen.
'~
,
Generally speaking the combination of facilities has been
excellent to satisfactory_ Comments from cities include "most
economical, convenient, and efficient", "save costs and is a
convenience to the citizens". The most cornmon dissatisfactions
revolved around inadequate space and lack of a completely definitive
agreement upon the distribution of expenses and/or authority,
These objections ca:mmonly came from "tenant" agencies.
w'
r
SYNOPS IS
Bulletin of tho American Municipal Association
Urban Renewal Report. Norfolk, Virginia
Letter: Port Huron, Michigan
Letter: Madison, Wisconsin
Letter: Augusta. Georgia
Bulletin of Governmental Research
"
Magazine Article - Detroit, Michigan
~
Let'ter:
Letter:
Michigan Municipal League
Camden, New Jersey
Report: City...County Jail Facilities
Tacoma, Washington
Report: Site Selection, Tacoma, Washington
Aln~rlcan City Magazine
Synopsis of Joint-City County Occupancy
of Public Buildings
American Municipal Association
1952
"Joint occupandY of a jointly-owned building can succeed, in the
experience of those who have tried it, if the division of authority,
responsibility and expense is clear. detailed and dis'~inctly under-
stood by the parties to the agreement. Lack of clarity on these
points has given rise to mast of the relatively minor dissatisfactions
which have arisen in some cases. Establishment of a joint commission-
or an Authority, where state law permits . to manage and operate the
building is frequently resorted to for solution of the financial and
housekeeping problems of two governments dwelling together. A second
lesson from experience is to provide sufficient space for comfortable
housing and expansion - of the activities and agenci as to be quartered
in the bul1ding.
Other instances of joint occupancy of a single building by city
and county are found where pne of the governments occupies space in a
building owned and managed by the other. Such arrangements, which de-
pend on the host government having space that can be made available to
the other, are also generally found by the parties thereto to be satis-
factory and economical. Space inadequacies underlie nearly all of the
mino~ dissatisfactions voioed to such arrangements."
Joi~t Oooupancy talla into thes. oat.sori..,
,1. Joint Ownership.
2. ''Landlord-tenant'' arrangement..
a. City ownership
b. County ownership
3. An Authority owns the building and both the c1 ty
and county are tenants. (Not covered in the
American Municipal Association report)4
Financial Data
"Joi.ntly owned facilities were customarily erected under joint
sup8rvi~ion, occasionally under jurisdiction of a special commission
or agency established to erect and/or operate the building. The cost
of construction is customarily shared between the governments in the
proportion of their ownership and/or occupancy. Where one gover1Ulent
1s housed in the building of another the owning government almost uni-
versally constructed the building at its own expense."
'.
Operational Practice
In ofte-third of joint cnmership cases those involved maintains "1 ts
own ponion". In other cases jointly established agencies are responsible
for Ilaintemmce and management. In one case the county has the sole
responsi bil1 ty of all maintenance. The most common procedure is for
each agency to provide and pay for its own maintenance and operational
expeas8 and make their own alterations in offices.
Where there is a "landlord-tenant" relationship the host govern-
ment or authority is responsible for janitorial and operational costs.
Municipal Viewpoint
Of the 30 cases:
20 report the combine "satisfactory", some stating "most
economical, convenient, and efficient", "saves costs and
is a convenience to citizens."
9 reported satisfaction with some qualifications. Dissatis-
faction usually revolved around lack of expansion space or
lack of complete agreement on distribution of expenses and
authority. Dissatisfaction reported by three partners, two
landlords and five tenants.
"
"Of the twenty municipalities which availed themselves of the
opportunity to advise other cities contemplating similar arrange-
ments, thre~ 'gave unmodified approbation of joint occupancy and three
(all "tenants") urged separate quarters. Two suggested a joint
management agency~ four offered a reminder to provide for future
expansion, and eight made various suggestions for definitive agree-
ment on cost and management details."
City-County Buildings Jointly Owned
Financial Data.
The most common method of financing was by general obligation
bonds. ",rpA assistance was given on two occasions. In several ift-
S1:anees the buildings were erected on state oll'ned land. City and
county costs generally were not equal but varied according to the
8JnOU!\t of floor space each agency intended to occupy. Quincy and.
Adams County~ Illinois constructed a building in 1950 for a cost ot
$1,800,000 which included city-county offices, courts and jails.
The city population at that time was 41,450 persons.
3.
and Advice from different cities.
"Ownership by city or county".
"Satisfactory to both city and county" but "have joint
agreement regarding maintenance and utili ties".
"Satisfactory except that a savings could be made by joint
maintenance and operation", suggests there be a contract
providing for "unified operation and maintenance of build-
ing and grounds".
"Satisfactory" "monies for nperation be in only one juris-
dictionts budget, with reimbursement by the other juris-
diction.
''Most economical~ convenient and efficient" can be well
recommended to any who are considering a joint building".
Comment
1.
2.
4.
..
s.
~
6. "Makes a one-stop building and is a convenience for the
public II .
7. "It saves costs and is a convenience to citizens."
8. "- not too well". The building should be owned by an
Authority or corporation. in vhich the county and the
city should have an equal voice".
9. "- has vorked very well - cooperation between the city
and county has been excellent". ''Enter into a workable
written agreement between the parties concerned satis-
factory to both governments".
10. "Satisfactory" "where the building can be so designed
that each agency can operate in definitely separated
areasll.
11. "Very well". "Adequate space for future enlargement".
City in County Building
Financial Data.
The county in all cases owns the building and received no state
or federal assistance. Generally the county is responsible for all
maintenance and operation of the building. The city generally pays
rent.
4.
S.
6.
and Advice from cities.
IIE:x:cellent" .
''Excellenttr, outgrowing our space".
"Exc:elhnt". except for lack of space due to constantly
expant1ii\g' facilities of both gOV;i"Mlntlt,
"O.K.., except lack of space". "Build your own building".
"Well satisfied"..
"Satisfactory" .
Comment
l.
2.
3.
County in City Building
Financial Data.
Ci ty generally bore entire expense of construction. "Rent" from
the county varies~
Alameda County. California. pays $5.232 per year for 5,456
square feet in 30 year old building.
Labette County. Kansas. pays $3000 per year for 13.500 square
feet in a 40 year old building.
Crawford County, Kansas receives 2,500 square feet rent free.
St. Clair County~ Mic~igan. pays $1.000 per year for 18.500
square feet in a 90 year old building.
Erie County, Nev York. pays $82.000 annual rent for 40,000
square feet in a 30 year old building.
Comment
1.
2.
3.
4.
and. Advice.
"Satisfactory" .
"Satisfactory"
'~s the city.s requirement for space increased, great
difficulty in evicting other additional county offices
was experienced".
Satisfactory - however I rent is too low" - ''painting and
redecorating should be left to the agency renting or the
rent made high enough to cover".
"Satisfactory" . "Provide adequate floor space for expansion
of facilities".
5.
(Full report included in Appendi%)
SYNOPSIS
Urban Renewal Report
Norfo1kJ Virginia
1960
A 182 million dollar redevelopment project is underway in
Norfolk which involves Urban Renewal J.\1nds. The total cost to
the city is estimated to be 12 million dollars.
".
The redevelopment plans include a 15 million dollar Civic
Center which features in separate buildings a Municipal Building,
A municipal Courts Building, Police Headquarters and a Jail. Re-
development plans also call for a 1.5 million dollar library and
a 6 million dollar Motor Hotel.
"
'-
CITY-COUNTY BUILDING
Port Huron, Michigan
1961 Letter
The total cost of the facility was 3i million dollars and will
serve a population of 175,000 people. It was constructed in 1954
by a building authority. The Authority is a group of three private
citizens incorporated by joint action of the county and city to borrow
necessary money, construct the building and rent said building back
to the two bodies on a pre-arranged contract. The authority continues
to operate the building and maintain it as a leasehold with the city
and county as tenants.
General public reaction was mixed. Most liked the building
and the joint effort, but having turned down a G.O. issue for the
same purpose, some were chagrined.
Space is allotted on the basis of a pre-arranged plan.
"Cost savings are noticeable. We can not compare with old
structure but by comparing a neighbor city with the same needs,
we have by far a better facility for less money. Certainly the
combined jail is an extreme savings" (City Manager, Port Huron,
Michigan)
:
CITY-COUNTY BUIIDING
Madison, Dane County, Wisconsin
1961 Letter
In 1957 the $7,944,744.00 city-county building was completed.
It accommodates 700 employees, 165 county prisoners, 56 city prisoners
and an 84 car garage.
The building was financed by general obligation bonds which were
well received by the public. The building 1s jointly owned and the
building is managed by a Building Commission, composed of two County
Board Supervisors, one City Alderman and the City Building Commissioner.
The cost is based on the square footage of space used by each party
with hallways and other general areas counting 50"/0 to each govern-
ment. The county is the fiscal agent and pays all bills as the
Building Commission approves them. The county then charges the
City their percentage of these bills. Maintenance employees are
hired by the Building Commission, but become employees of the
county .
'~e feel they are many (cost savings), such as one maintenance
superintendent, one chief telephone operator, repairs on one set of
equipment inltead of two I.t., on. snow plow, garden equipment. On.
jail k1 tchen, ete." (Building COmln1ss1oner, Madison, Wisconsin).
The operation has been most satisfactory, however, advice 1s
given which states that a good working contract and a small managing
ecmmitt.. are desirable.
CITY-COUNTY BUILDING
Augusta, Georgia
1961 Letter
The total cost of the building plus furnishings was $3,050.000
for 108.000 square feet. The building was built in 1957 to serve a
population of 135,601. The building is jointly owned by the city
and county and was financed by general obligation bonds.
The city occupies 74.4% and the county occupies 25.6% of the
nine story building. Maintenance cost are shared on this same per-
centage basis.
"The cost savings are in th9 overhead. land and supplies. I
'Can't give you a dollar and cents breakdown because of the expanded
governmental operations and p~pulation in this area." (City Manager
Augusta. Georgia)
-.
, .
SYNOPSIS
Bulletin of the Governmental Research
"City-County Building?"
March 1956
Lincoln, Lancaster County
Nebraska
. This is a report by a citizens committee to the city and
county commissioners urging the oonstruction of a joint city-
county building inclusir.g jall and court facil1 ties.
The report encourages the use of n b~ilding authority which
1s permissible under Nebraska statutes. Revenue bonds which are
not subject to debt limitations of the city and county but whioh
require a vote by the electorate under Nebraska statute are. also,
el\couraged. The "authority" would actually issue the bonds. The
authority is a special public corporation appointed by the city
and county commissioners. Revenue would be collected as rent paid
by the 01 ty and county.
The total east of the building would be $3.500.000 for 130,000
squ~e feet of space. The county would occupy see" of the building
and would pay $157,993 per 'year for forty years for maintenance,
operation, debt retirement.~and interest on the debt. Lancaster
County is presently paying '1>49.645 annually tor the upkeep and
operational costs of their old building.
(Full report in Appendix)
SYNOPSIS
Government News
"City and County Share Buildings"
No date
Detroit - Wayne County, Michigan
Scattered buildings caused loss of time and created confusion
for the public. Not on'~y ",,:E"re city Elr.d ccunty buildings separated
but the city and county ~ented offices ~n ~ther buildings which was
expensive and further scattered offices t't\'~reby reducing inter-
governmental activities.
A building authority has been appointed to construct, maintain
and operate the building. The authority i~su8s self-liquidating
revenue bonds securad by leases from thf~ 01 ty and county. Bond
issuance does not ra~uire a vote by the electorate in Michigan.
Rents paid are fixed at a rate sufficient to maintain the building,
1ts upkeep and to amortize the bonds. The fixed fee is less than
either the county or city has paid for upkeep, rent, maintenance
and operation since 1949. Maintenance and operational char g.. art
figured at $2.00 per squar'e foot per year. The cost of the new
building is $28,087,565.
SYNOPSIS
Letter to the League of Oregon cities from the city of
Camden, New Jersey, December 6, 1954.
In Camden there is a joint facility where the county owns the
building and the city pays rent. The building was erected with a
party wall so it could be operated as two separate buildings. Each
agency pays for its own insurance, water, telephone and electricity.
There are separate heating facilities, however, the city furnaces
have never been used. The county furnishes heat, janitorial servic.,
space, and repair work. The city feels it is paying too much for
these servicel in that more than one-half the tax.. collected in
Camden County are collected in the City of Camden. In 1954 the
city paid the county $102,000 for operational expense.
SYNOPSIS
Letter from Director of the Michigan Municipal League
to ~he Director of the Municipal Association of South
Carolina dated February 1, 1960.
Most of the city-county buildings in Michigan are being financed
under a special statute that enables an authority to issue revenue
bonds and take care of the debt obligations through rent paid by both
the c1 ty and county.
There is occasional dissatisfaction over who is to have what
space.
The biggest problem encountered is employee relations. City
and county pay scales, vacations, holidays, hours and so forth
differ and when employees are together these differences are magnified.
There has never been any serious consideration given to abandoning
. the idea onc. the arrangement has been entered into.
~
SYNOPSIS
Guiding Principles in Selecting a County-City Building Loeatlon.
(Tacoma, WRshington
1961 Letter
A planning report on factors to be considered in site selection.
It covers:
1. Floor area
2. Land area
3. Access1.bility
4. CO\mty ~\~at
S. P'i'Pulation distribution
6. Highways
1. Rural areas
8. Principal users
g. Attorney
lB. Other professional groups
11. Press
12. Public officials
13. Relationship with central Business District
14. Transit Lines
IS. Taxicabs
16. Automobiles
17. Walking
18. Parking
19. Civic center
20. Retail trade (Publ io buildings can act as
a dampening influence on retail trade)
21. Office and Financial
22. Traffic
23. Site expansion
24. Preparation of the site
25. Utility services
26. Heating
(Full report included in the appendix)
..
THE AMERICAN C TIT
The following articles can be found in the American Ci~
Magazine. These articles are not reproduced in this report e-
cause of copyright considerations, however, they are available
at "the Salina Public Library and can be made available at public
m.etings.
1. "If You're Planning a City Hall" - page 149. March 1957.
The first consideration 1s to ascertain if "the town,
the city commission or a building authority can legally
build. The second step is to consider what agencies need
to be iocated in the building, such as jail, municipal
water, etc., and perhaps the desire to construct rental
space for lawyers, doctors. etc.
Site location should consider topography, parking,
expansion area, land cast,
The city fiscal agent should outline methods of
raising money.
The cost of a city hall may range from $12.00 to
$22.00 per square foot.
Consideration in the article is given to the clerk's
office, mayor's office, court room, library and auditorium.
The polic. department is frequently in the basement
or on the ground floor. Where the jail 1s part of'the
police layout, the plan of the police department .should
be arranged so that people may came in and visit without
interfering with police activities. The prisoners should
be enclosed by steel on four sides at all times and the
cells should keep the prisoners away from outside walls. .
The article gives dimensions and facilities of individual
cells.
2. "Augusta-Richmond Builds on 619 Shells"- page 129, November 1957.
The article is about the Augusta-Richmond County, Georgia
city-county building. The cost of the building was $2,585,000 in
1955 and is completely air conditioned. The article covers the 'type
of construction of the building and the detention facilities which
are wi thin the building.
3.
"New Rochester Civic Center Looks Ahead to City-County
Consolidation" - page 114-115. February, 1957.
.'
The county population is 500,000 and plans proposed a
$43,000,000 civic center. The center is dominated by a 22
story city-county office building wi'th a separate building
housing 'the city 81\'l o:ounty courts.
The building has been planned for maximum efficiency
and flexibility. For example, city and county planning
departments are located on the same floor separated only
by a common reception room. Interior walls can be moved
to provide flexibility.
Traffic considerations were considered in site selection.
4. "City-County Combine to Finance and Maintain City Hall"
Page 7. Ivlarch 1954.
A joint ownership building in Petaluma, California. The
building contains 12,970 square feet.
S. "Circular Police Building for Philadelphia" - page 112, April 1960.
The article stat~s that there is a space savings due to
the circular design.
6. "San Pablo 's Modern City Hall" - page 99, July 1958.
The building contains city offices, municipal court,
county. library, oounty public health and the police depart-
.,t. mente The floor plan is shown and building costs arl given.
."
APPENDIX
Bulletin of the American Municipal Association
Bulletin of Governmental News
State of Indiana Building Authority Statute
Construction and Maintenance Agreement
Cheyenne-Laramie County
List of Source Material
JOINT OCCUPANCY OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS
American Municipal
Association
19S:Z
JOINT CITY-COUNTY OCCUPANCY OF PUBLIC OFFICE BUILDINGS
The housing of municipal and county offices in a single jointly-
owne'd "c i ty-County Build ing" structure has been pioneered by a number of
county-seat cities and their county governments with results generally des-
cribed as satisfactory and economical. It constitutes a small but growing
pattern of intergovernmental cooperation at the local level. One such building
was completed in 1950, one is now under construction, and several others are
being planned.
Joint occupancy of a jointly-owned building can succeed, in the experience
of those who have tried it, if the division of authority, responsibility and
expense is clear, detailed and distinctly understood by the parties to the
agreement. Lack of clarity on these points has given rise to most of the rela-
tively minor dissatisfactions which have arisen in some cases. Establishment
of a joint commission - or an Authority, where state law permits - to manage
and operate the building is frequently resorted to for solution of the finan-
cial and housekeeping problems of two governments dwelling together. A second
lesson from experience is to provide sufficient space for comfortable housing
and expansion - of the activities and agencies to be quartered in the building.
Other instances of Joint occupancy of a single building by city and county are
found where one of the governments occupies space in a building owned and
managed by the other. Such arrangements, which 1epend on the host government
having space that can be made available to the other, are also generally found
by the parties thcn:to to be satisfactory and economical. Space inadequacies
underlie nearly all of the minor dissa.tisfactions voiced to such arrangements.
~~~E~,m..F..;;~p.QBj'
Most of the known instances of joint occupancy of public office buildings by
municipal and county governments are. included in this report. They have been
affirmatively sought by inquiry to the state leagues of municipalities or other
sources of informa.tion in every state of the Union. Most of the cities involved
in the arrangements thus ascertained have responded to r~quests for physical,
financial nnd operational data, and for comment and advice, which is presented
in this report.
Not included in this survey are buildings jointly occupied for sp~cial purpose
agencies, such as Joint police radio stations, health clinics and the like.
Excluded also are the administration buildings of actually combin~d city-county
governments such as those of Denver, St. Louis, Baltimore and San Francisco.
~~~AJOR PATTFRNS OF JOI~T OCCU~~~CY
Joint occupancy a.rrangements may be roughly grouped into three patterns. The
first and most authentic situation is where the building has been jointly erected
and 1s jointly owned and operated by the two government. Fifteen instances of
this type of cooperation are set forth in Table I. In the other two groups one
of the governments is in the position of "landlord" and the otoer in that of
"tenant". Eleven instances of municipal occupancy of space in county facilities
1s given in Table II and eight of county occupancy of municipal facilities in
Table III'.
-2-
PHYSICAL DATA
Many of the instances of county-municipal cooperation through joint occup~ncy
date back many decades. Some of the buildings thus employed are of compara-
tive antiquity, of which the most notable is the Court House of Greesville
County (Emporia), Virginia, erected in 1781. Another historically notable
building is the jointly owned and occupied structure housing the offices and
courts of Wheeling and Ohio County, West Virginia, erected by the state in 1875
as its first Capitol building. Thirteen of the buildlngs were erected between
1873 and 1917; fifteen were erected during or since the late 1920s. The newest
such completed and occupied structure is the county-city building of Adams County
and Quincy, Illinois, a seven story structure erected in 1950.
The distribution of space allocated to the two governments varies. Where one
is housed in the building of the other its space is customarily a rather small
proportion of the total. Jointly owned structures appear customarily to be
divided either 50-50 or in a ratio tlpproximating one-third city and two-thirds
county. In some cases, under'all of the types of joint occupancy, space is
provided for certain state or federal governmental agencies or for community
organizations such as the Red Cross, Girl Scouts and the like.
FINANCIAL DATA
Jointly owned facilities were customarily erected under joint supervision, oc-
casionally under j~risdiction of a special commission or agency established to
erect andlor operate the building. The cost of construction is customarily
shared between the governments in the proportion of their ownership and/or oc.
cupancy. Where one government is housed in the building of another the own-
ing government alznost universally constructed the bu:l.lding at its own expense.
OPERl.TIONAL PRI\.CTICE
Jointly owned facilities arc customarily managed and maintained under a co.
operative agreement entered into between the two governments. This is a
particularly necessary arrangement with respect to maintenance, where common
grounds and structural features require provisions for sharing responsibility
and/or expense. In a third of the joint ownership cases - those involving
Phoenix, Chicago, Camden, Wheeling and Milwaukee - it is reported that each
maintains "its own portion". It is likely that in at least some of these
cases certain maintenance problems do from time to time require cooperative
action. Jointly established agencies for the particular purpose are respon-
sible for management and maintenance of tho jointly owned facilities in which
municipal agencies of San Diego, Wilmington, Minneapolis, St. Paul and Bismarck
arc housed. In only one of the cases - Cheyenne and Laramie County, Wyoming -
is management and maintenance assigned ns a sole responsibility of only one
of the cooperating agencies - the county, in this case.
More customary in joint ownership st~uctures is for each government separately
to provide and pay for its own janitorial and other operational oxpenses.
Improvements and alterations in offices are specifically included as borne by
the agency occupying the space in the case of San Diego and Chicago.
Where a separate agency of building management commission operates the jointly
owned facilities it customarily pays for janitorial and operational expenses
and assesses proportioned shares of the cost to the cooperating governments in
accordance with agreements made.
-3-
~lere either the city or the county occupies sp~ce in a building of the other
it is the nOrInr..l situation to find the host government solely responsible for
m~.nagement and maintenance a:1d for providing [lnd paying for Janitorial and
operational services. Where rent is paid by the non-o'nling government the amount
of rent is of course, predicated in part upon the costs to the host of rendering
such services.
THE MUNICIPAL VIEi.JPOINT
Munic1p~l1t1es involved in joint occupancy - whether as partner, landlord or
. tonant - generally report their experience to have been "satisfactory". Of the
30 cases in which an opinion is expressed, 20 may be thus summarized; plus
another nine expressing satisfaction with some qualification. There is little
significant difference in the evaluation given by municipalities as to between
those that arc partner, landlord or tenant. A few reply in particularly enthusi-
astic terms - such as Wilmington, which terms its arrangement "tlost economical,
convi;nient and efficient", or St. Paul, reporting that its arrangement "saves
costa and is a convenience to citizens". Some dissatisfaction with arrangements
is expressed b~r ten municipalities, three of which are partners, two landlords,
and five tenants. Thcse dissatisfactions usually revolvc'around either an
inadequacy of space for expansJon of activities or lack of a completely definitive
agreement upon the distribution of expenses and/or authority.
Of the twenty municipalities which avail0d themselves of the opportunity to
advise other cities contemplatins similar arrangements, three gave unmodified
approbat ion of joint occupe.ncy and thre,~ (311 t1 ten:lnts") urged separate quarters.
'l'wo suggested a jo:\.nt management agency, four offered a reminder to provide for
future expansion, and eight made vari~us suggestions for definitive agreement on
cost end mcnagemcnt details.
JOINT OCCUPANCY P~.:NS UNDERWAY
It is interesting to observe that several of the cooperating governments arc
now in or planning their secor..d or third jointly occupied structure, evidcncing
that their county-municipal coopcrati'on has outlived on.;} or more buildings.
Chicago and Cook County, Ill., ar0 now in th0 third such structure to be occupied
on the same site under pl~ns similar to the present. St. P:lul and Ramsey County,
Minn., are now in their second jointly owned building. Wheeling and Ohio County,
W. Va., finding their 77-year old structurc inadequate, arc now underway with
plans for a new $2 million joint building. St. Clair County, Mich., having
learned to live with the city government as tcn~nt in the Port Huron City Hall,
is now planning with the city to build jointly - through an Authority - a new
building as city hall, court house and jail.
Interest or active planning of new joint city-county office buildings is reported
also by Pontiac and Oakland County, Mich., and three pairs of Wisconsin govern-
ments - Fond du Lac and Fond du Lac County, Green Bay and Brown County, and
Madison and Dane County.
The newest instance of city-county joint occupancy is well underway in Detroit
where a multi-story $20 million building is being erected for the use of the
City of Detroit and Wayne County (in an npproxtmately 45% - 55i ratio) by the
Detroit-Wayne Joint Building Authority, which will own the land and the building.
Responsibility for management and mainten~nce of the building will be vested in
the Authority, which will make a distribution of janitorial and operational
expenses to the two governments which will occupy the structure.
TABLE I
CITY AND COUNTY IN JOINTLY OWNED BUILDING
PHYSICAL DATA
FINANCIAL DATA
ALABAMA - Eufaula and Barbour County
City and county offices and courts and city
jail are located in the three story Court
House. The city has three offices in the
building, the county five. The building
also provides office space for the VFW.
City Population: 6,906
City and county jointly own the build-
ing. Total cost of construction was
$50,000. The method of financing and
shares between city and county are not
reported.
ALABAMA - Selma and Dallas County
City offices and courts and city and county
jails are located in the three story City
Building, erected in 1937 under supervision
of the city. Other agencies having space
in the building are T. B, Association,
Vocational Rehabilitation, Red Cross and
Crippled Children's Service. Cou.~ty uses
third floor and the city the rest.
City Population: 22,840
The building is jointly owned by the
ci ty and county; the land was owned by
the city. The building cost $200,000,
the city share being $114,000, assisted
by a PWA grant of $86,000. The ci ty
issued $100,000 in bonds to finance
the construction.
ARIZONA - Phoenix and Maricopa County
City Population: 106,BIB
City and county offices, courts and jails
are housed in the COt~t House and City
Hall, erected in 1928. The building has
five stories and about 150,000 sq. ft. of
floor space. City uses 49,640 sq. ft.;
the county 100,118 sq. ft.
City and county each owns its portion.
The county o'N.Ded the land and sold the
city its part for $150,000. The total
cost of construction amounted to
$1,205,460, the city's share being
$399,028 and the county's $804,432.
Bonds were issued - $450,000 by the
city and $750,000 by the county.
Ci tr Population: 331~, 387
CALIFORNIA - San Diego and San Diego County
City and county offices are located in the
six floor (four plus tower) City-County
Administration Building erected in 1938.
The building contains some 255,211 sq. ft.
of floor space; the county uses 60.75% and
the city 39.26%,. Construction of the build-
ing was jointly supervised by city and
county.
The building is jointly owned by city
and county. It is situated on 18 acres
of tidelands donated by the State. The
total cost of construction amounted to
$1,800,000. The city and the county
each paid $300,000 and there was a
$1,200,000 PWA grant.
DELAWARE - Wilmington and New Castle County
City Population: 110,356
City and county offices, courts and jail
are located in the City and County Build-
ing, erected in 1914-1916. The five-story
building has 156,316 sq. ft. of floor space.
A commission of Erection supervised con-
struction. Space is provided for the State
Board of Parole.
The city and county jointly own the
building. The total cost was
$1,421,526; the city's share: land
$93,484, building $702,501, equipment
$20,667; the county's share: land
$71,109, building $526,613, equipment
$1,1.52. Bonds issued: $800,000 by
ci ty, $600,000 by county.
\
)
TABLE I (Continued)
OPERATIONAL DNrA COMMENT AND ADVICE
Count~ Population: 28,892
City and county share responsibility for
management and maintenance of the building
and the costs of janitor service and
operational expenses,
- AlABAMA
Eufanla and Barbour County
Advice to others is "Ownership by city
or county."
County Population: ~6J270
Selma. and Dallas ~ounty - ALABAMA
Responsibility for ~nagement and main-
tenance, and for the payment of janitor
service and other operational expenses,
is proportionate to space allocation.
The city pays the bill.s and bills the
county for ite share (O~e third).
Joint occupancy is reported to be
"satisfactory to both city and county".
Advice to other cities is to "have
joint agreement regarding maintenance
and utilities."
County Population: 331,770
Phoenix and Maricopa County - ARIZONA
Each maintains end operates its own
portion,
In the city's opinion the joint occu-
pancy ha.s ....orked out "SatisfactorilYJ
except that a saving could be made by
joint maintenance and operation." The
city suggests that there be "a contract
providing for unified operation and
maintenance of building and grounds."
County Population: 556,808
San Diego and San Diego County - CALIFORNIA
A joint Administration Building Control
Committee is responsible for management
and maintenance. Operational expenses are
handled as follo....s: improvements or alter-
ations in offices by the agency occupying
the space; salary of superintendent of the
building, costs of operating elevators and
maintenance of grounda, and capital improve-
ment projects all financed 50-50; other
costs including janitorial service are paid
on the basis of space allocated.
County Population; 218,879
The arrangement has ....orked out "Satis-
factorily" from the city's standpoint.
Advice to other cities is that "monies
for operation be in only one juris-
diction's budget, ....ith reimbursement
by the other jurisdiction. In San
Diego financing is provided in t....o
separate budgets and some confusion
and difficulties result." Also sug-
gested is "tight administrative
control."
Wilmington and New Castle County - DELAWARE
A joint Public Building Commission is re-
sponSible for management and maintenance
of the buil~ing. City and county equally
share the cost of administration and heat.
Each is charged for janitor services and
other expenses, includtng electric and ....ater,
and for materials, as used.
From the city's standpoint this arrange-
ment is "Most economical, convenient
and efficient.1I - The comment is made
"It seems to us that our plan is most
satisfactory, and can be well recom-
mended to any ....ho are considering a
joint building."
TABLE I (Continued)
PHYSICAL DATA
FINANCIAL DATA
City Population: 79,611
GEORGIA - Columbus and lv1uscogee County
City and county office~ and county courts
are housed in the two atory Muscogee County
Court House erected undor county supervision
in 1895. The building also provides space
for the U.S.D.A. Home Demonstration Agent.
ILLINOIS - Chicago and Cook County
-.'. ..
City and county office~ and courts are
housed in what is in effect a single twelve-
story building, although each half was
separately erected. The county portion was
built in 1906-07 and the city's in 1908-11.
The only line of de~arkation is an imaginary
line in the middle of the central corridor,
continued upward through all of the floors.
~!
The building is owned one-third by the
city and two thirds by the county.
.cIty Population: 3,620,962
Each of the governments (county and
city) owns its own "building" - or,
more accurately, its half of the single
building. The county portion cost
$4,870,854 and the cJty portion
$5,013,239. The downtown block was
state-owned land held as a public
common.
City Population: 41,450
ILLINOIS - Quincy a~Adams County
,
Offices1 courts and jail of both the city
and county are housed in the new seven-story
Co\mty-City bUilding evected in 1950. The
space allocation is 37% city and 63% county.
Ownermhip is proportionate to space
allocation. The $1,800,000 cost waS
$1,100,000 county, financed entirely
by bonds, and $700,000 city, for which
$575,000 of debt was incurred. The
land was county owned and the city
purchased its portion.
City Population: 521,718
MINNESOTA - Minneapolis and Hennepin County
City and county offices, courts and jails
are housed in the seven-story Municipal
Building erected 1900-09 under supervision
of a special agency. Each occupies one-
half of the building. Credit Union and
cigar stands occupy apace on a rental basis.
City and county jointly own the build-
ing; the land was purchased in 1856
for a school. The total cost of con-
struction, amounting to $3123215921
was equally shared by city and county
and entirely financed by bonds.
TABLE I (Continued)
OPERATIONl.L DATA
COMMRNT AND ADVICE
Columbus and Muscogee CO\mty - GEORGIA
County Population: 118,028
Responsibility for management and mainte-
nance is proportionate to the shares of
ownership. The city and the county are each
responsible for their own janitor service
and other operational expenses.
No comment is given as to how joint
occupancy has worked out nor advice
to others.
County Population: 4,508,792
Each b~vernment is responsible for the
management and maintenance of its portion
of the building. Each pays for its own
janitor service and other operational
expense, with one exception. The city
furnishes heat to the county portion as
well as its own, the county paying for
this service under a formula based upon
the costs of coal and labor, with a
minimum annual charge of $50,000 being
stipulated.
Chic~.and Cook County - ILLINOIS
The present building (or bUildings) is
the third such structure to b~ occupied
by the city and cOtmty under plans
similar to the present arrange~ent.
t--r---..
Quincy and AdamS-County ILLINOIS
County Population: 64,690
Both city and county share responsibility
for management and maintenance. The county
furnishes heat on a cubic foot basis.
Experi~nce from the city's standpoint
has been "Good" and the comment is
made that such an arrangement "Makes
a one-stop building and is a conven-
ience for the public."
County Population: 676,579
Minneapolis and Hennepin County - MINNESOTA
A state-created Municipal Building Com-
mission is responsible for management and
maintenancej costs are figured separately
for each agency.
Joint occupancy has proved "Satis-
factory" from the city's standpoint.
TABLE I (Continued)
PHYSICAL DATA
FINANCIAL DATA
City Population: 311,349
MI~1'lESOT1\ - St. Paul and Ramsey County
City and county office~ and courts are
housed in the eighteen~story City Hall
and Court House erected in 1934. The
city and county use approximately equal
spares of the 264,000 sq. ft. of space.
Erection of the building was supervised
by a Joint City Hall and Court House Com-
mission. The Water Department has space
in the building for which it pays $6,000
per year; s~ace is granted to the Employees
Credit Union and to Federal, state and other
governmental units on occasion.
NEW JERSEY - Crunden and Camden County
City and cOtmty offices and courts and
the city jail are located in the five-
story (plus eighteen-story tower) Court
House Annex-City Hall erected in 1928.
The building has approximately 294,232
sq. ft. of area. The city uses approx-
imately one-half of the main building plus
the tower. Construction was jointly super-
vised. Rent Stabilization, Tuberculosis
Association and Girl Scouts have rent-free
quarters; the Housing Authority rents spacG
at $1,800 per year.
City and county jointly own the build-
ing. The land WaS acquired by con-
demnation and purchase. The total
. cost of construction amounted to
$3,400,000, equally shared by city and
county, each issuing bonds in the
amount of $1,700,000.
City Population: 124,555
The city and county jointly own the
building; the land was acquired by
purchase and/or condemnation. The
city's share of cost of construction
WaS $6,233,000, for the financing of
which the city issued bonds.
NORTH DAKOTA - Bismarck and Burleigh County
City Population: 18,640
A three story World War Memorial Building
erected in 1929 serves as a general com-
mlmity building providing Natio~~l Gunrd
Headquarters, gymnasium, athletic tourna-
ment floor, convention room, etc. rrhe
building has 48,020 sq. f.t. of area of
which the city uses 720 for its Nursing
Service and the county 672 for its County
Agent. Construction was jointly super-
vised by city and county. The State Merit
System and Girl Scouts have rent-free
quarters in the building and the Chamber
of Commerce rents at $100 per month.
The building is jointly owned by city
and county. The land was acquired by
condemnation. The total cost of con-
struction was $210,000, of which the
city's share was $125,000, the county's
$85,000.
TABLE [ (Continued)
OPERATIONAL DATA
-'County Population: 355,332
A commission of four city and three county
officials is responsible for management and
ma:intenance of the building. The cost of
janitor service and other operational ex-
pense is borne half by the city and half
by the county.
COMMENT AND ADVICE
St: Paul and Ramsey County - MINNESOTA
It is pointed out that the arrange-
ment has worked very well and that the
present building is the second the two
governments have occupied jointly.
"It saves costs and is a convenience
to citizens."
County Population: 300, 71~ 3
Camden and Camden County - NEW JERSEY
The city's Bureau of City Property and the
cbuntyts Department of Buildings a.:ce respon-
sible fo~ ll~nagcment and maintenance of the
building. Distribution of costs of janitor
service and other operational expenses is
made under an agreement between city and
county.
Joint occupancy has worlwd "not too
well" from the cityrs standpoint. The
opinion is expressed that "The build-
ing should be owned by an Authority
or Corporation, in which the County
and the City should have an equal
voice. Such Authority or Corporation
should then have complete control of
the building."
County Population: 25,673
B~:i smo.rcl<: and Burleigh C~unty - NORTH DAKOTA
A commission of one city and one county
official is responsible for managem2nt and
maintenance. Janitor and other occupa-
tional expense i.s paid three-fifths by the
city, two-fi.fths by the county.
Joint occupancy, from the cityrs
sta.ndpoint, "has worked very well -
cooperation between the city and county
has been excellent." Advice to ot.her
citias is to "Enter into a workable
written agreement between the parties
concerned satisfactory to both govern-
ments) at least at the date the agr~e-
ment is t;xecutcd."
~LE I (Continued).
PHYSICAL DATA
FINANCIAL DATA
City Population: 58,S91---
WEST VIRGINIA - w~eeling and Ohio County
City and county offices and courts and city
jail are located in the three-story City-
County building erected in 1875. The build-
ing WllS erected by the state as its first
capitol. It provides 34,885 sq. ft. of
floor space, of which the city uses 13,763
sq. ft. the county 21,122 sq. ft. .
The city owns approximately one-third
and the county two-thirds of the
building.
WISCONSIN - Mihraukee and MilWlukee County
City Population: 637,912
City and county offices, courts and jails
are housed in the six-story Safety Building
erected in 1930-31. Construction was super-
vised jointly. It comprises 63,000 sq. ft.
of space of which the city uses 51% and the
county 49%.
The city and county jointly own the
buildinp:, the snares being equal except
as affected by the police g~~aBium.
Cost of construction amounted to
$3,262,000, equally shared. The city
iSSUtd bonds to finance its part.
The land was acquired by purchase.
WYOMING - Cheyenne and Laramie County
City Population: 31,935
Offices, courts aDd jail of both the city
and county are located in the thrce.story
City and County Building, erected in 1917
under joint supervision. The city occupies
on~-third and the county two-thirds of the
space.
The building is jointly owned. The
land was county owned and the city
purchased its share. The total cost
of construction amounted to $216,611.
The county's share was $150,979 and
the city's share $65,633, plus $3,800
for cells.
~LE I (Continued)
OPERATIONAL DATA
COMMENT AND ADVICE
Wheeling and Ohio County - WEST VIRGINIA
County Population: 71,672
City and county are each responsible for
their own space. First and second floor
are evenly divided; the county occupies the
entire third floor.
Joint occupancy has worked out satis-
factorily and construction of a new
$2,000,000 joint building is underway.
"Based on local experience," the City
Manager finds "no serious objection
and would recommend where economy a.nd
public convenience are factors and
possible political difference do not
intrude."
County Population: 871,047
Milwaukee and Milwaukee Co~ty - WISCONSIN
The city and the county each manages and
maintains its section and pays its own
operational expense.
Joint occupance has been "Satisfac-
tory" from the city's standpoint, and
is recommended "where the building can
be so designed that each agency can
operate in definitely separated areas."
County Population: 47,662
Cheyenne and Laramie County - WYOMING
The county, in agreement with the city, is
responsible for management and maintenance.
The city takes care of 30.3% of the cost of
janitor service and other operational ~x-
pensej the county carries 69.7% of such
expenses.
The arrangement has worked out "Very
well", although ''Recently additional
space is needed by each due to in-
creased business". Advice to other
cities is to provide "adequate space
for future enlargement."
~LE II (Continued)
OPF.RATIONAL DATA
County Population: 331,770
The Town Clerk's office is responsible for
management and maintenance of the building.
Town and county each pay 50% of janitor ser-
vice and other operational expense.
COMMENT AND ADVICE
Chandler and Maricopa County - ARIZONA
Recommendation is made that, "if pos-
sible to do so financially, a munici-
pality its own City Hall, separate
from other government uses.u
County Population: 196,685
Li ttle Rock and Pulaski. County - ARKANSAS
The county is solely responsible for man-
agement and maintenance of the building.
The arrangement is said to be "Satis-
factory" from the city's viewpoint;
no advice is tendered other cities.
____County Population: 98,853
Decatur and Macon County - ILLINOIS
The county is responsible for all manage-
ment and maintenance and pays all janitor
service and other operational e~pense.
,/
The city's experience has been "Excel-
lent" except that its 15-year lease is
considered to be too short; the city
''Would advise a longer lease."
Newport and Campbell County - KENTUCKY
County Population: 76,196
The Campbell County Court House Commission
is responsible for management and maintenance
of the building, Costs of janitor service
and other operational expense are paid by
the county. The county, in addition to the
rent paid by the city, gets free water.
The arrangement is viewed as "a good
deal for the City of Newport from the
cost standpoint."
County Population: 28,185
Cassopolis and Cass County - MICHIGAN
The county is solely responsible for manage-
ment and maintenance and provides janitor
service and carries other operational
expenses.
The city's experience is reported as
"O.K., except that it has become over-
crowded and they want us to move and
we have no place to go," Advice to
other cities: "Don't do it."
TABLE II
PHYSICAL DATA
CITY IN COUNTY BUILDING
. ARIZONA - Chandler and Maricopa County
Town offices and town and county courts and
jails are located in the one-story City Hall,
erected in 1923. The building provides 3,696
sq. ft. of space, used 50-50.
FINANCIAL DATA
City Population: 3,799
Maricopa County owns thebuildingj no
data available on cost of construction.
A.l1KANSAS - Li ttle Roclt and Pulask:!. County
.
_~!l. Population: 102,213
City and county courts and county offices are
located in the four-story Pulaski County
Court House, erected in 1920. The city has
four rent-free offices, the county the rest
of the building.
Pulaski County is the owner of the
building, constructed under its super-
vision at a cost of $700,000.
ILLINOIS - Decatur a.nd Hacon County
City and county offices, courts and jails
are located in the six-story County Build-
ing, erected in 1938. The city uses the
equivalent of one floor - at a $7,200 an-
nual rent. Other governmental agencies in
the building are the Township, Draft Board
and Rent Control offices.
/
KENTUCKY - Newport and Campbell County
City offices and county offices and courts
. are located in the three-story Newport Court
House, erected in 1884. The city uses about
25% (6,600 sq. ft.) of the space - for which
it pays $900 annually - and the county the
remaining 75%.
___City Population: 66,269
The building was constructed by the
county, at its expense. The land was
acquired by purchase.
-city Population: 31,044
The building is owned by the countYj
the land was acquired by deed from the
city.
MICHIGAN - Cassopolis and Cass County
City Population: 1.527
City and county offices and courts are 10- The building is owned by the county.
cated in the three-story Cass County Court
House, erected in 1885. The city uses ap-
proximately 500 sq. ,ft. of space for which
no rent is paid (the building 1s exempt
from water and sewer charges). The build-
ing also houses offices of the U. S. Farm
Home Administration, Social Aid and Social
Welfare, as well as the Cass County Abstract
Office/(non-governmental).
TABLE II (Continued r
PHYSICAL DATA
'.
FINANCIAL DATA
City Population: 17,027
,MICHIGAJ~ - Mt. Clemens and Macomb County
City offices and county offices and courts
are housed in 'the thirteen-story Macomb
County Building, erected in 1930. The city
uses one floor ata $5,000 annual rental.
. "
The county built and owns the building;
the land was purchased from the city.
The total cost of construction amounted
to $750,000, borne by the county and
financed by bonds.
MISSOURI - Cartha.ge and Jasper County
City and county offices and courts are housed
in the three-story Jasper County Court House,
erec~ed in 1894, providing approximately
40,oQo sq. ft. of floor space. The city
uscs five rooms, rent-free. The building
also houses the Agricultural Agent, Proba-
tion and Parole Office, Assistant State
Service Office, Draft Board and two abstract
companies, all. rent~free.
City Population: 11,188
Building and land are owned by the
county. The total cost of construc-
tion of the building amounted to'
$100,000, equally shared by city and
county.
TEI\TNESSEE - Memphis and Shelby County
j 1-
City and county offices and county courts
are housed in the three-story and double
b~sement Shelby County Courthouse, erected
in 1909. The building contains approx-
imately 85,300 sq. ft~ of which the city
uses 24,000 sq. ft. at no formal rental.
The local Bar Association haa a law library
on the third floor.
City Population: 396,000
The county owns the building. The
total cost of construction amounted to
$1,588,872; the 'land was purchased for
$319,362. '
VIRGINIA - Emporia and Greensvi11e County
Town and county offices and courts are lo-
cated in the two-story Court House, erected
in 1781. The building contains 21,000 s~.
ft. of space, of which the city uses about
1,000.
City Population: 5,664
The building was built and is owned by
the county,
TABLE II (Continued)
OPERATIONAL DATA
COMMENT AND ADVICE
Mt. Clemens and Macomb County - MICHIGAN
County Population: 184,961
The county is responsible for management
and maintenance of the building and pays
all expense for janitor service and other
operational costs.
The ci ty' s tenancy, from its stand-
point, has been ''Excellent''.
County Pop1uation: 79,106
Carthage and Jasper County - MISSOURI
The county is responsible for management
and maintenance of the building except as
to the interior of city offices. The city
pays for its own janitor service, using a
janitor hired by the county.
The city's experience is described as
"Excellent" though the city is "out-
growing our space and eventually will
probably have to have more room, which
could not be provided in this build-
ing."
County Population: 482,393
Memphis and Shelby County - TENNESSEE
The county has full management} but the
city pays full cost on any maintenance to
city offices. The county pays janitor ser-
vice and all operational expenses except
the electric bill; the city pays the lat-
ter for both city and county offices} ap-
proximately $5,000 a year. .
From the city's viewpoint the arrange-
ment is "Excellent} except for lack of
space due to constantly expanding
facH1 ties of both governments". Ad-
vice to other cities is to provide "a
wcrka~le scheme on arrangement of
enough working space, taking into
consideration expansion."
County Population: 16,319
Emporia and Greensville County - VIRGINIA
The county is responsible for management
~nd maintenance. Except for the town
supplying free water, the county pays for
all maintenance and operational expense.
From the town's viewpoint the arrange-
ment is "e.K., except lack of space".
Advice to others is to '~uild your own
building."
TABLE II ('Continued)
PHYSICAL DATA
FINANCIAL DATA
VIRGINIA - Harrisonburg and ROcldngham County
City and county offices and joint city-county
courts and jail are located in the two-story
County Court House (the city also has a sep-
arate Municipal Building). The city pays on
a proportionate per capita basis for the use
of county facilities which amounts to approx-
imately 23.526% of the expense based on the
1950 census, or over $6,000.
City Population: 10,810
Rockingham County built and owns the
building.
WASHINGTON - Seattle and King Countl
City offices and county offices, courts and
jail are located in the ten-story County-
City Building, erected in 1916. The build-
ing provides approximately 540,000 sq. ft.
of floor space, of which the city uses
106,356 sq. ft. at $212,711.52 annual rent.
, .
City Population: 467,591
The county built and owns the build-
ing; the land was purchased. The total
cost of construction was $3,610,000
for which the county issued bonds.
TABLE II (Continued)
OPERATIONAL DATA
COMMENT AND ADVICE
-
County Population: 35,079
Harrisonburg and Rockingham County - VIRGINIA
Supplies, repairs, insurance, alterations,
fuel, water, light, etc., are shAred in
the proportion that the population of the
city bears to the aggregate population of
the county and city.
The city is "well sa.tisfied with the
joint a.ctivities."
County Population: 732,992
------~attle and King County - WASHINGTON
The county is solely responsible for
management and maintenance and bears the
entire cost of janitor service and other
operational expenses.
Joint occupancy, from the city's
standpoint, has been "Sa.tisfactoryll.
TABLE III
PHYSICAL DATA
COUNTY IN CITY BUILDING
FINANCIAL DATA
City Population: 6.430
. ALA13AMA - Alexander City and Ta.llapoosa County
The county uses, rent-free, two rooms in
the three-story City Hall, erected in 1939.
One private law firm bas space in the
building.
The city owns the building, which it
constructed at a cost of $100,000 of
which $52,000 was finaneed by bonds.
CALIFORNIA - Clovis and Fresno County
City offices and courts and county courts
are located in the one-story City Hall.
Space is about equally divided between
city and county, the county using its space
for township courts, at $720 annual rent.
City Population: 2,766
The city owns the building, wh~h was
originally a bank building.
CALIFORNIA - Haywa.rd and Alameda County
City and county offices and courts and
city jail are located in the three-story
City Hall, erected in 1930. The city uses
6,571 sq. ft. of the building space, the
county 5,456 sq. ft. at $5,232 annual
rent. Other agencies which use office
space in the City Hall are the State Dept.
of Motor Vehicles, Chamber of Commerce
and Girl Scouts.
I
V
City Population: 14,272
The city built and owns the building;
the land was purchased from a private
owner. The total cost of construc-
tion of the building amounted to
$125,900, borne solely by the city;
bonds in the amount of approximately
$68,900 were issued to finance the
construction.
KANSAS - Coffeyville and Montgomery County
City and county offices and the city jail
are located in the three-story Municipal
Building erected in 1928. The city uses
basement and first floor, the county the
second floor, paying $1,080 rent annually.
City Population: 17,113
The city owns the building, erection
of which was reportedly jointly super-
vised. The land was acquired by pur-
chase. The total cost of construction
amounted to $225/000, financed by
city bonds.
~BLE ~II (Continued)
OPERATIONAL DATA
COMMENT AND ADVICE
County Population: 94,092
Alexander City and Tallapoosa County - ~
The city is responsible for management
und maintenance and the cost of janitor
service and other operational expenses.
County Population: 276,515
The city is responsible for management
and maintenance of the building, and bears
janitorial and operational costs.
The joint occupancy, from the city's
standpoint, has been "Satisfactory".
Clovis and Fresno County - CALIFORNIA
From the city's standpoint the arrange-
ment has been "Satisfactor.y". It is
observed that "From our viewpoint
there is no objection" to such a.n
arrangement.
County Population: ~,315
The city is responsible for management
and maintenance of the building and all
janitoria.l and operational costs are paid
for by the city.
Haywa!d and Alameda County - CALIFOFNIA
The city reports that '~s the city's
requirements for space increased,
great difficulty in evicting other ad-
ditional county offices was experi-
enced." Relationships otherwise have
been amicable. The city's advice is
to "(l) Avoid use of City Hall space
by non-governmental agencies; (2) Ac-
commodate othor governmental offices
only if genuine benefit to the city
results; such as drawing fringe-area
residents into the city or facilitat-
ing liaison of city departments with
other jurisdictions, such as police
department and county sheriff."
County Population: 46,487
Coffeyville and Montgomery County - KANSAS
The city is responsible for management
and maintenance of the building and pays
the costs of janitor service and all other
operational expenses; the county's share
is included in the rental.
The experience from the city's stand-
point is "Satisfactory - However rent
. is too low." It is suggested that
"painting and redecorating should be
left to the agency renting or the rent
made high enough to cover."
~LE III (Continued)
PHYSICAL DATA
FINANCIAL DATA
KANSAS - Parsons and Labette County
City offices and county offices, courts and
jail are located in the three-story Munici-
pal Building, erected in 1923, which has
27,000 sq. ft. of space. The city uses the
first floor of the building, the county the
second at $3,000 annual rent. The offices
of the School Superintendent and the Depart-
ment of Water are in the same building.
KANSAS - Pi ttsburgh and Crawford County
City offices and county courts are located
in the two-story City Hall, erected in 1900.
The city uses 5,000 sq. ft. of floor space
and the county 2,500, rent-free. The State
Highway Patrol has one rent-free office.
City Population: 14,750
The city built and ovns the building,
the site for which was purchased from
the Board of Education. Cost of con-
struction was $150,000, for which city
bond.s were issued.
City Population: 19,341
The city built and owns the building,
for which it purchased the site. The
cost of construction was $35,000,
wholly borne by the city and financed
by bonds.
MICHIGAN - Port Huron and St. Clair County
City Population: 35,725
City and county offices and courts are
housed in the three-story Port Huron City
Hall, erected about 1873. It provides
28,360 sq, ft, of floor space, of which
the city uses 34.64%, and the county
65 . 3&;', at $1,000 annual rent.
The City of Port Huron owns the build-
ing, which it built on park space
dedicated to the public in 1872.
. NEW YORK - Buffalo and Erie County
City Population: 580,132
The county health department, sales tax
and planning offices are housed in the
25-story City Hall, which was erected in
1929 and houses city offices. The city
uses 2,771,000 sq ft. in the buildins,
the county 40,000, at $82,000 annual rent.
The State also occupies office space in
the City Hall.
Building and land are owned by the
City. The total cost of construction
amounted to $6,900,000, solely borne
by the ci ty .
TABLE III (Conti?ued)
OPERATIONAL DATA
County Population: 29,285
COMMENT AND ADVICE
The city is responsible for management
and maintenance of the building, and
pays all janitorial and operational
expenses.
Parsons and Labette County - KANSAS
Experience has been "Satisfactory"
from the city's standpoint. The advice
is given to "Provide adequate floor
space for expansion of facilities."
County Population: 40,231
Pittsburg and Crawford County - KANSAS
The city is solely responsible for man-
agement and maintenance of the building
and pays all expenses.
Joint occupancy has proved to be
satisfactory to the city.
County Population: 9l,5~9
Port Ht~on and St. Clair County - MICHIGAN
..
The city is responsible for management
and maintenance. The city and county
each maintains its own janitor service
and bears other operational expenses
for its respective floor area.
Joint occupancy has worked out "Very
well" from the standpoint of both the
city and county, and they now plan to
build jointly - through an Authority -
a new buildinS as city hall, court
house and jail.
County Population: 899,238
Buffalo and Erie County - NEW YORK
Joint occupancy is "Satisfactory" from
the city's standpoint. It is urged
that in construction of a new build-
ing proper allocation of space and
facilities be made to prevent con-
fusion and centralize the services of
both agencies, and that consideration
be given to expansion of both.
The city is responsible for management
and maintenance of the building and pays
all expenses.
.