Butler County is buying roughly an acre on Marshall Road in Cranberry Township to build a new district judge office.

The county commissioners this morning approved the $96,500 purchase from Matt, Maria and Lauren Bartling to build an estimated $700,000 building.

County solicitor Mike English said the move would save money. The county this year is paying a total of $71,651 in rent to Lue-Regent Associates for office space on Executive Drive.

Commissioner Bill McCarrier said an estimated $62,000 annual payment on borrowing for the new building still would be less annually than the rent paid now.