Geneva council directs staff to place $59.04M public-safety bond on March 17, 2026 ballot; approves home-rule education plan (no later than 2028)

After extended deliberations, the Geneva City Council directed staff to prepare ballot language for a March 17, 2026 public-safety bond referendum and adopted a companion resolution to begin home-rule education, with timing amended to "no later than the 2028 general election."

Staff framed the discussion by noting the Geneva Police Department is housed in a building not originally designed for police use and that modern policing requires additional technology, records space and training areas. "The Geneva Police Department has not had a facility that was built to be a police facility," staff said, underscoring space and certification needs that have changed in recent years.

Council members were split on timing. Alderson Mayer argued for a March bond to start construction planning: "We all know that there's limits on what we can approve through referendum... we should try to get some money to fund this police station to get started." Alderson Bowering and others urged broader engagement and cautioned that bond amounts and home-rule questions require public education. Several alderpersons said survey results showed majority support for home rule but warned of self-selection bias in polling.

Alderson Mayer moved to place a public-safety bond question on the March ballot for $59,000,400 (figure discussed as the option that includes alternates such as a larger garage and training range). After amendments and discussion, a roll-call vote recorded seven ayes, two nays and one absent; the motion passed and staff was directed to prepare formal ballot language and additional materials.

Separately, the council considered a draft resolution committing to home-rule education if the bond option advances. Council members debated phrasing and timeline; after amendment the body approved language setting an education and decision process with no later than the 2028 general election for any home-rule ballot timing. That resolution passed on final vote count 9–0 with one absent.

City administrator and staff indicated they will prepare ballot language and suggested holding a special council meeting Dec. 8 to finalize the language before the Dec. 29 deadline for the March ballot. Council asked staff to scope tax impact examples; staff provided an estimate that the discussed bond would raise the tax on an average $350,000 home by about $272 annually (about $23/month).