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Rexburg staff outline $17 million police building estimate and push for public process on bond
Summary
City staff presented a conceptual plan for a new police facility — about 24,000 square feet on roughly 5 acres with construction estimated near $17 million (land excluded). Officials recommended preparing RFQs and said a general obligation bond (67% approval) would be the preferred financing route if the council chooses to pursue a new station.
City staff presented preliminary findings on plans for a new police facility at the Rexburg City Council meeting, estimating construction costs near $17,000,000 and recommending steps to move from concept to a public decision.
Staff said the conceptual building footprint would be roughly 24,000 square feet on about five acres, though they emphasized the size could be reduced and some line items edited to lower costs. "If we were to construct a new police building, they're recommending, right around 5 acres," staff said, and noted the $17,000,000 figure covers construction only and does not include property acquisition.
The staff presentation said the city has been setting aside funds for new facilities for several years and projected about $2.5 million in savings in the impact-fee and related funds by the end of fiscal year 2025. That balance would reduce, but not eliminate, the need to borrow for a new building.
On financing, staff outlined two common options. An annual-appropriation lease (commonly called a certificate of participation or COP) allows multi-year terms but would carry higher annual payments; staff cited market examples of about 3.85% for a 20-year term and about 4.31% for a 30-year term and estimated annual payments of roughly $1,000,000 (20-year) to $865,000 (30-year). The presentation warned that with current savings rates (roughly $300,000–$400,000 per year) the COP option would likely be unaffordable unless the project was significantly reduced.
Staff recommended a general obligation bond as the preferred approach if the council decides to build a new station. That route would require a public vote and, as staff noted, a roughly 67% approval threshold for passage. "If a new police station is what we desire, then I would recommend that you do pursue that general obligation route," staff said.
Council members pressed staff for further analysis, including an estimate of likely tax impact if voters approved a bond and a realistic schedule for producing the design, cost estimates and ballot information. Staff said a best-case timeline could target late 2025 for a ballot measure, acknowledging that more detailed RFQs for designers and contractors would be needed first.
The discussion also returned repeatedly to the longtime idea of a joint municipal facility that could combine city, county, school and possibly university offices to reduce duplicated space and return downtown parcels to the tax rolls. Staff said the concept remains under discussion among local governments but that nothing has been decided. One council member noted recent school-district activity (an RFP and possible sale of the district office) that could complicate joint-facility planning and asked that the council be kept informed of intergovernmental meetings.
Next steps recommended by staff included issuing RFQs for an architect and a construction manager/general contractor, pursuing consultant support to craft clear public materials on costs and benefits, and returning to council with refined cost and tax-impact estimates before any ballot decision.
The council did not vote to commit to construction during the meeting; staff sought direction on whether to proceed with RFQs and to continue refining options.
