Concord city councilors were told they need to act fast if they want to keep the costs of a new police station from rising further.
An added reason for urgency: If they don’t approve the $53 million project next month, it could be 2027 before they begin construction, noted the city’s special projects director.
Total construction costs have risen to an estimated $45.5 million compared to $38.5 million in June. Councilors have already spent $4.1 million to buy the property and $3.5 million to design the police headquarters.
Total project costs are now $53 million, which would be paid for solely by local property taxes.
City administration has proposed two bonds to pay for construction instead of taking on the debt all at once. This means that the taxpayer hit will be smaller in the first year, then rise.
In the 2026 fiscal year, the tax rate is estimated to increase by 8 cents for the police station, then 39 cents the following year, then hit 84 cents by 2028 and hold there for a few years.
That’s an extra $31, then $194, and then $420 a year on the property tax bill for a home valued at $400,000.
Notably, that $420 added to local tax bills is more than the largest increase associated with Concord’s middle school project – which is estimated by district officials to add about $330 to the tax bill of a $400,000 home next year if approved by the school board.
Project leaders said less than $1.5 million worth of design options can be pared away. The project’s large addition, nearly doubling the size of the original Concord Insurance Group building the city purchased, is needed because the existing structure doesn’t meet disaster building codes. The cost to build new is more expensive per square foot than renovating the older space, said Beth Fenstermacher, the city’s special projects director.
At the same time, delaying the decision could push off the spring construction start time, which would inflate the cost further. Fenstermacher told councilors that if they didn’t approve the funding by year’s end, construction might be pushed off until 2027.
The police station cost would be on top of other increases in local spending – from regular, operating expenses to other major projects, like a new middle school or renovating Memorial Field.
Councilors will hold a public hearing before taking a vote on whether to move forward at their November monthly meeting.
