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Lynchburg staff detail $50.4M police headquarters and $8.5M Liberty University fire station at budget work session
Summary
City staff told council the police headquarters cost stands at about $50.36 million as of May 1; a new fire station with Liberty University is estimated at $8.5 million with about $500,000 annual lease equivalents, and the SAFER grant ends in 2028, which will add recurring firefighter costs to the general fund.
City staff briefed Lynchburg City Council on May 6 about the cost and near-term operating implications of major public-safety capital projects, including the police headquarters, a fire station built in partnership with Liberty University, and planned radio replacements.
“The police headquarters cost is $50,357,228 as of May 1,” a member of city staff said during the work session. The staff member added roughly $2 million remained to finish furnishings, fixtures and equipment (FF&E) and moving costs.
Staff also estimated the new fire station constructed with Liberty University represents an $8.5 million investment. “Our annual lease payments will be approximately $500,000,” the same staff member reported, summarizing the city's lease-calculation approach for a 30-year equivalent.
The SAFER grant and staffing costs Staff reminded council that the federal SAFER grant supporting additional firefighters expires March 1, 2028. “The SAFER grant ... ends on or about 03/01/2028, and that is moving 21 firefighters into the general fund budget from the grant fund. And that's gonna cost, 1,470,000 plus based on progression pay and equipment and all those things annually,” the staff member said.
Radio funding and CAD replacement Donna, a budget staff member, said the estimate to replace radios for the fire department is about $700,000 and staff are working with the fire chief to identify operating savings to cover much of that cost. The work session also reopened an earlier conversation about replacing the 9-1-1 CAD system and other long-delayed technology upgrades.
Why it matters: Capital and grant timing affects recurring costs. City staff reminded council that SAFER grant-funded positions will become a permanent general-fund expense when the grant ends. Lease payments and debt service for major facilities can materially change the long-term structural budget.
Council questions and context Council members pressed staff on why the police headquarters cost increased from earlier projections; staff said the early budget was a placeholder and that multiple redesigns, a space study and rising material and FF&E costs had driven increases. Staff also said a roughly $2 million portion of the increase represented property acquisition for the current site.
Next steps Council members requested continued detail on cost drivers, lifecycle and operating impacts of the new facilities, and possible offsets or scheduling that might reduce near-term pressure on the general fund.
Ending No formal action was taken; council directed staff to provide additional detail for the upcoming budget calendar and to continue to identify one-time and recurring funding options for equipment and staffing implications.
