Courts moving December 1st

The Criminal Courts are leaving Mesa for Phoenix starting December 1st. Looks like any efforts to keep the courts open locally have oficially stalled. What we don't quite understand is why the move is taking place now when the new tower won't be open until 2012. How much money will be really saved by moving the courts 3 years early? Is that operation costs or is that money being put right into building the court building?

It should also be noted that the sherriff closed to the Mesa jails a couple of years back, although having local jails was part of what got the bonds for the jails passed in the first place.

While all of these moves are designed to save Maricopa County money, they are more than likely going to cost the local cities more, not to mention the residents who now have to drive downtown for jury duty.