BELTON - Bell County Commissioners agreed Monday to the issuance of $66.1 million in bonds that will restructure debt and help pay for a new addition at the Bell County Justice Complex on Loop 121.

“This will not generate any tax rate increase whatsoever,” said Bell County Judge Jon Burrows.

The refinancing of bonds and bonds for capital projects will be handled with separate transactions.

Commissioners are refinancing the seven–year, $29.5 million bond that paid for the jail construction under way on Loop 121. Those bonds were issued in 2006 at a 4.23 percent interest rate with a plan to refinance before the debt matured.

The bonds were refinanced for 18 years at a rate of 4.43 percent. Garry Kimball, a financial consultant for the county, said in 2006 the bonds would have had a 20-year interest rate of 4.69 percent.

The other bond issue of $36.6 million will be used for capital improvement projects.

The new addition at the justice complex is expected to cost $26.95 million. It will be for County Courts-at-Law, which handles the misdemeanor caseload in the county.

Three County Courts-at-Law courtrooms operate out of an annex that used to be an old warehouse on Second Street in Belton.

Burrows said moving the misdemeanor courts to the justice center is necessary to meet the demands that would come from future growth. He said is it feasible the county could add another court within the next six years.

The move also helps with courthouse security. In the future prisoners would be able to be transported down a common corridor to court hearings rather than being transported through Belton from the jail to the courthouses.

In addition, the building will have a common entrance with common security.

The facility will be a “hallmark for safety in the state,” Burrows said.

The county has seven years to pay off the $36.6 million debt, which is financed at 4.02 percent. The debt is expected to be refinanced at closer to 20 years before it matures.

Kimball said financing the debt for seven years allows the county to purchase the bonds without insurance, which he said saves $150,000 up front.

Burrows said refinancing will help the payments to be level over a long period of time.

Commissioners also agreed to go out for bid on a nearly 30,000 square-foot multi-purpose building also planned near the Justice Complex. The county has set aside $4.1 million from the 2006 limited tax notes for the project. The building would be a storage area for documents and other items.