Boca Raton staff propose Spanish River site and up to $175 million bond referendum for new police headquarters

City staff on Sept. 22 presented detailed plans and cost estimates for a replacement police headquarters and urged the City Council to allow Boca Raton voters to decide whether to approve bond financing for the project in March 2026.

Jim Zervis, the citydeputy manager and chief financial officer, and project architects described a proposed new headquarters on city‑owned land near Spanish River Boulevard. The plan would replace the current downtown headquarters (built in 1986) with a larger, hurricane‑rated facility on a more central site; staff said the current building is undersized and uses multiple off‑site locations for operations and evidence storage.

"The item that will come before you later today is simply the decision to place the item on the March 2026 ballot for the public to be able to vote on the financing of a new police headquarters project," Zervis told the council, emphasizing that no project approval or contract would be made by council at the workshop.

Key details from the staff presentation - Site and layout: staff identified a city‑owned site on Spanish River Boulevard adjacent to the Spanish River Library. The proposed campus includes a 2.5‑story headquarters building, secure perimeter, public lobby entrance, vehicle and equipment parking areas, and room for future training and a firing range. Staff said the design leaves space for future parking garages and other expansions. - Size and schedule: ADG, the architect, produced a space needs analysis that proposes about 163,000 square feet as a long‑term build target; staff presented a delivery schedule that would put move‑in around 2029 if design and construction proceed on schedule. - Cost estimates and financing: preliminary (rough order of magnitude) cost estimates in the staff slides range from about $174 million to $193 million depending on scope and timing. Staff recommended a financing plan using a combination of tax‑exempt, AAA‑rated general obligation bonds and a cash contribution from the general fund. The staff recommendation presented to council called for a $175 million bond authorization and approximately $15.2 million in general‑fund cash contribution. - Financial advisory board input: the cityFinancial Advisory Board (FAB) reviewed the proposal and recommended an alternative split: a $125 million bond plus $65 million in cash. FAB’s vote was 4–3; dissenting members favored a larger bond amount rather than more cash.

Budget and projected tax impact City staff estimated the annual debt service on a $175 million bond at roughly $10.9 million, which the staff said would represent 0.2605 mills and would raise the average homeowner’s tax bill about $124 per year. The smaller $125 million bond recommended by FAB would have a lower annual cost and a smaller per‑household impact. Staff noted Boca Raton—s total operating millage rate would remain below many comparable Florida cities even after the proposed bond.

Operational rationale and public safety considerations City and police leaders argued the new facility responds to changed operational needs since 1986, expanding space for evidence, specialized units, technology, secure storage and to reduce the department’s current footprint across multiple sites. Chief Michelle Muccio told council members that patrol officers operate citywide and that a central, modern headquarters would not reduce patrol coverage; staff also proposed a roughly 10,000‑square‑foot downtown police substation to maintain a public presence in the downtown area.

Process and next steps Zervis and staff stressed that the council’s vote later in the day (on the regular meeting agenda) would only place a referendum question on the March 10, 2026 ballot; a separate, later public process would be required for design, procurement and any bond issue. If the referendum were approved, the city would issue bonds in series as needed rather than drawing the full authorization at once, staff said.

Public and council reaction Council members and members of the public raised questions about contingency, escalation allowances, and the effect on city reserves. Some council members supported the staff recommendation and emphasized the need to protect reserve levels; others said they wanted to preserve flexibility and avoid drawing down restricted funds. Council members asked detailed questions about operational consolidation, the planned substation downtown, the planned training and firing range, and whether phased construction or a partial "shell" build should be used to reduce near‑term cost exposure.

No formal council vote on the bond occurred during the workshop; the staff recommendation appeared as an item on the City Council—s regular‑meeting agenda later the same day for formal consideration and possible action.