Camden council approves financing for new City Hall and public safety complex

The Camden City Council on April 21 unanimously approved Ordinance #2026-008, authorizing an installment purchase transaction and amending the Fiscal Year 2025-26 budget to fund the construction of a new city hall and renovation and repurposing of the existing city hall into a public safety complex.

Councilmember Phil Elliott moved the ordinance on second reading, and Mayor Pro Tem Hamilton Boykin seconded; the motion carried unanimously. The ordinance authorizes the city to execute related financing documents, assigns authority to the mayor and city manager to finalize transaction details, and approves the Camden Public Facilities Corporation to issue bonds as needed to effect the financing.

The council had opened a public hearing earlier in the meeting on a related second amendment to the fiscal-year budget, which would appropriate general fund monies toward construction, acquisition, renovation and equipping of city hall and public safety facilities. No members of the public spoke during the hearing, and the council closed the hearing within one minute. City officials said the amendment covers both a new city hall and upgrades to police and fire facilities as part of the same program of capital work.

The ordinance and the budget amendment together give the city authority to proceed with the procurement and contracting steps necessary to move the projects forward; the council delegated execution authority to the mayor and city manager to finalize financing documents and other instruments required under the transaction.

The council also voted unanimously earlier to enter executive session later in the meeting to discuss contractual matters related to city administration; when it returned from executive session it reported no further action.