City Council explores funding options for $200M Police and Civic Campus project

The Corvallis City Council held a work session on December 16, 2024, focusing on facility investments, particularly regarding the city campus and police facility funding alternatives. The meeting aimed to clarify misconceptions circulating on social media about the council's intentions, emphasizing that no proposals were being voted on at this time. Instead, the council sought to discuss various funding options and gather questions for city staff.

Council members reiterated that the session was the beginning of a broader conversation about securing additional revenue to support the city's infrastructure needs. The discussion highlighted the importance of aligning funding strategies with the city’s long-term fiscal sustainability goals.

City staff presented a brief overview of potential funding sources, noting that the council has been actively working on modernizing critical infrastructure over the past four years. Recent successes include remodeling two fire stations and developing a funding strategy for a park maintenance facility without requiring additional community funding.

The council is currently exploring funding for a significant $200 million Police and Civic Campus project. Staff outlined three primary avenues for generating revenue, emphasizing that these options could be combined to meet the city's needs effectively. The recommendation was made to consider hiring a consultant to further investigate these funding strategies, guided by input from the council and community.

This meeting marks a critical step in addressing the city's infrastructure challenges and ensuring that future funding aligns with community needs and expectations. The council plans to continue these discussions in future sessions, aiming to develop a comprehensive approach to funding city projects.