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Boca Raton lays out schedule and financing approach for new police headquarters
Summary
Deputy city manager and public‑safety leaders presented a site and program update for a consolidated new police headquarters near the Spanish River Library, described operational benefits, a multi‑phase schedule through design and construction, and said a general obligation bond could be considered for voter approval in March.
City staff on Monday updated the Boca Raton City Council on plans for a new consolidated police services headquarters, saying the current 1987 building is increasingly constrained, dispersed and vulnerable to storms.
"We have to evacuate our building if there's a storm coming," Police Chief Muccio said, describing operational limitations and the need for a building that secures specialized equipment and improves co‑location of units. Chief Muccio and Deputy City Manager Jim Zervas said the proposed location adjacent to the Spanish River Library provides a much larger footprint and better access to major transportation corridors.
Public Works Director Zach Beard said the current downtown facility is about 30,000 square feet on roughly 4.39 acres and that staff has completed a space needs analysis that includes projections to 2035 and 2045. Zervas said the project will proceed in phases: space programming and site planning in 2025, design and permitting in 2026, and an anticipated construction start in the 2026–2027 window with an estimated two‑year build.
On financing, staff said the project will likely include a 30‑year, tax‑exempt general obligation bond and that targeting a municipal election in March would be cost‑effective. Zervas also noted a reimbursement resolution on the council agenda that preserves the city's ability to reimburse out‑of‑pocket design costs from future bond proceeds while clarifying that the resolution does not obligate the city to issue bonds.
Next steps: staff will refine site layouts and budget estimates, present ballpark budgets and illustrations in the fall, and bring financing options to the council for further direction ahead of any voter measure.
