A bond to replace the La Marque’s overcrowded police headquarters likely won’t appear on the May ballot, as planning delays and financial concerns hinder progress on a finalized proposal.
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As the Public Safety Building Committee works to finalize drawings and financial estimates, a May ballot bond proposal to finance a new police headquarters becomes more improbable. City Clerk Kierra Nance voiced uncertainty during Monday's meeting about whether the committee will provide a comprehensive plan to the city council by the February 14 deadline.
Half the size required for the department, the current headquarters—a 10,000-square-foot former bank constructed in the 1970s—are Officers outnumber accessible office spaces, and evidence storage spills into movable facilities highlight the urgency of the problem.
Committee members underlined the need to deliver a well-researched proposal even though they agreed to meet more often. High expenses in a 2022 proposal caused the current committee to give affordability priority. Nance advised, "We need to know what we can afford first and then build a plan that fits."
On January 21 the committee will meet with the financial consultants for the city to go over possible funding sources and cost projections. With only two city council meetings left before the deadline, the emphasis is on guaranteeing community support for a more practical idea instead of hurriedly trying to satisfy the May ballot schedule.
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