In another effort to keep an option open to raise funds for upcoming construction projects, the Douglas County Commission voted unanimously Wednesday to establish a public building commission.

Public building commissions give local governments an avenue for issuing bonds to fund the construction of government facilities without voter approval. The mechanism is being created mainly with two upcoming projects in mind: renovations to the county fairgrounds and expanding the county jail.

Still, commissioners have not decided how to fund either project and may not use the building commission for them. In January, the commission also took steps to keep a sales tax referendum open as a fundraising option. Counties in Kansas cannot hold such elections without the Legislature’s approval, so the commission voted to pursue the passage of a bill that would allow it to hold one.

“We want to have all possible options to choose from,” Commissioner Nancy Thellman said.

A public building commission is composed of individuals appointed by the County Commission. It can then issue bonds for any facilities projects when instructed by the County Commission. Various local governments across Kansas have building commissions, including Johnson County, Franklin County and the city of Topeka, for example.

The bond issue is subject to public protest, however. If 5 percent of registered voters file a petition, the bond issue must then pass an election.

No matter which route commissioners take, county administrator Craig Weinaug has said financing the jail expansion, which also involves building a separate mental health crisis intervention center, will affect the mill levy. That project has been loosely estimated to cost between $20 million and $30 million and does not have a set construction date.

Thellman and Commissioner Mike Gaughan, both Democrats, have not stated a preference for how to fund the jail expansion or the remaining $3 million-plus for the $6.5 million in renovations for the fairgrounds. But on Wednesday Commissioner Jim Flory, a Republican, went so far as to say he doubts he will want to use the building commission for the jail expansion, which is still in an information-gathering stage.

“On a strictly large project … I doubt that I would be supportive of using this on a project of this size, rather than taking it to the electorate,” he said. “But that remains to be seen.”

Flory went on to say that he thought a building commission would be useful for smaller projects and that it “doesn’t cost a penny” to establish.

Joe Norton, the county’s bond counsel, recommended that each commissioner appoint one person for a term identical to his or her own. The commissioners will make their appointments at their March 4 meeting.