JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The longer the city grows grass on the site of the planned Duval County courthouse, the more expensive the project is becoming.

Mayor John Peyton's advisory committee announced Wednesday that the cost of constructing a new courthouse would be more than $300 million. That figure exceeds what the $190 million voters approved when the Better Jacksonville Plan was passed in November 2000.

"$300 million, I think, is a shock to the system for all of us," said City Councilman Lad Daniels. "We were hoping we could come in substantially less."

In October, Peyton halted construction on what was supposed to be an opulent new courthouse after the cost continued to escalate.

Tuesday Channel 4's Jim Piggot learned that the committee proposed three different options for building a scaled-back version of the courthouse. Now the estimated costs for each of the proposed plans have been unveiled.

If the city were to build two separate court facilities -- one for criminal and civil cases, it would cost $356 million.

If the city were to build one courthouse and continue to use the existing one for civil cases, it would cost $320 million. If the city opted to add an extra wing to the existing courthouse, the price would rise to $331 million.

The final plan would call for the city to build a courthouse large enough to handle civil and criminal cases, but leave part of it empty to complete at a later date. That option would cost $329 million.

But with the Better Jacksonville Plan already more than $1 billion over budget, some concerned taxpayers would like to see the city scrap the courthouse project altogether.

"Our position is that the courthouse should be put off for 10 to 15 years because of the shortage in the Better Jacksonville Plan," John Draper said. "The road projects should be built first and the courthouse needs to be made a lower priority."

The mayor's office said putting the courthouse on the backburner is not an option. Instead, a new law that levies surcharges on traffic fines will help pay for whatever option the city decides to execute on the new courthouse.

"We will build with those revenue sources what we need to conduct legal and judicial business in this county," said Susie Wiles, Peyton's spokeswoman.

Still, many taxpayers have had enough. So have certain members of City Council, who propose putting the courthouse project up to a vote.

"There is an option we do have," Warren Alvarez said. "…Put it back on the ballot and let the people decide if we want to build a $300 million facility."