NORTH PORT — The North Port City Commission agreed that third-party finance experts could help the city find the best way to pay for the its future police headquarters.
The subject was discussed at the end of Tuesday’s regular City Commission meeting.
Saying the current police headquarters is too small for the number of employees, and anticipating significant growth in the city to continue, city officials began discussing building a new headquarters late last year.
The current plan for a new facility is estimated to cost $122 million.
At Tuesday’s meeting, Commissioner Debbie McDowell made a motion to change Monday’s planned workshop April 1 to a special commission meeting. McDowell’s motion was approved. The reason for the change is so commissioners can make and vote on decisions.
Workshops are meetings where only discussions can be had. No official actions can be made.
The commissioners intend to further discuss funding options to the 100% design plan.
Some options discussed were $50 million from a surtax, $35 million from property taxes, $8.6 million in land parcel sales, and $7 million from selling the current police station to the city’s building department.
That equates to around $100 million generated.
On Tuesday’s meeting, Vice Mayor Phil Stokes made a motion to have City Manager Jerome Fletcher and staff meet with bond or financial experts to discuss funding, and it passed 4-0.
Commissioner Pete Emrich, out injured after a motorcycle crash, is still unable to vote.
A financial advisor, bond council, and/or any “outside third-party experts that can lend assistance” regarding matters will be pursued, per the motion.
The project has received pushback from the public, with some publicly commenting on the meeting Tuesday night and at many other meetings regarding the subject.
The project will go to referendum in November.
All five commissioners have previously voiced their approval for a new police headquarters.
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