Maricopa’s first stand-alone municipal courthouse was dedicated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday night.

Maricopa City Council members and other government representatives gathered for the brief ceremony inside the 6,300-square-foot building’s 2,000-square-foot courtroom.

City Manager Rick Horst had two words to describe the project’s bottom line: “Under budget.”

His comment drew laughter from the dedication ceremony audience.

Horst told InMaricopa the $5.87 million courthouse project was completed at about $320,000 under budget.

The court has been open for business since Jan. 2 and can be found adjacent to City Hall off 39700 W. Civic Center off North White and Parker Road.

Previously, the city’s court shared a building with Pinal County Justice Court and Maricopa City Hall’s council chambers.

The facility includes a jury room and court clerks’ office cubicles for several clerks, complete with L-shaped desks that rise so staffers can work standing up.

It also has a small holding cell at the end of a hallway adjacent to the courtroom.

The includes three separate offices for judges and court administrators.

A lobby entryway into the courthouse with large glass windows and a metal detector entry.

Two windows allow residents to pay traffic citations from outside the clerks office.

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