(BENTON, IL) — Franklin County officials will be heading out soon to talk to county voters about the need for a new courthouse in Benton and the one percent sales tax voters will either vote for or against in April to pay for it. The County Board recently approved placing a referendum on the April ballot for the one percent sales tax. County Board Chairman Randall Crocker recently told us a new courthouse would cost $18 to $20 million and take two years to complete. A site for the new facility has not been discussed at this time. Crocker says he hopes the new courthouse would be paid off in 15 to 20 years with the sales tax also expiring during that time frame. The current courthouse on the Benton Square is over 140 years old and is suffering from many problems including wiring that is not up to par to its foundation that is in critical condition. Security is also another big issue seeing that everyone from courthouse employees to jury members to inmates has to use the same entrance. Officials will work in committees and stress to voters at the meetings the efforts to pass the sales tax and what this project will involve. Dates and times have not been set.