City leaders approved a slight tax increase to secure full funding for the comprehensive renovation project for the Starkville Police Department during Tuesday's Starkville Board of Aldermen meeting.
Aldermen voted 5 to 2 in favor of the resolution, with Ward 1 Aldermen Ben Carver and Ward 3 Aldermen David Little dissenting.
"There are very few words how I can describe how I feel at this moment," said SPD Chief Frank Nichols. "I am thankful and overjoyed. I am grateful to the mayor and the board for seeing the need for us to be in a building that we can be proud of."
The specific funding request will raise the millage rate by 1 mill when the board approves the next year's fiscal budget in September to secure the needed $2.4 million.
One tax mill secures just over $224,000 to the city, the current rate is set at 21.98.
The motion was brought forward by Vice Mayor-Ward 6 Alderman Roy A. Perkins at the end of April after the city's appropriations request to state legislators failed. Perkins stressed the resolution contained language to rescind the millage increase after all debts were paid on the project.
"I am thankful for Vice Mayor Perkins' leadership on this matter," said Starkville Mayor Parker Wiseman.
Before the vote, Perkins spoke passionately about the arduous process of searching for a new police department location. Since 2001, SPD had reviewed around eight possible options for relocating or acquiring new properties—to no avail.
"I am grateful and humbled for the strong vote that was cast by our board tonight," Perkins said. "It represents a golden leaf in the city's history book. This action taken tonight will put to rest a final conclusion on a vital city matter that has been fervently talked about and discussed for many years."
Project architect Gary Shafer reiterated the benefits of conducting renovation construction as opposed to acquiring new property for a new facility before the vote. He cited previous efforts to acquire property at Jackson Street and Highway 182 as a clear indicator to stay the course. New construction and land acquisition costs at the site could have reached $8.5 million.
The project will include a renovated second floor, youth court services, all code updates along with a slew of exterior work including paving and striping with protected parking and a new sally port. The roof would be resurfaced and waterproofed under the current plan. ADA access would be moved to the front of the facility, Shafer said.
Project costs sit at $5.4 million for the complete overhaul of the aging facility at 101 E. Lampkin St. City staff relocated from the building last November into a new City Hall building, leaving SPD the entire former National Guard outpost. Drainage, sewage and other infrastructure problems plague the current location.
Costs rose after design components were added and needed infrastructure repairs were uncovered in the building. Aldermen previously debated looking for a new property and selling the current facility.
Carver said the city missed an opportunity after the former Walmart and Bulldog Lanes property was given to the city and considered for a new department. The property was later sold. Officials advertised the current facility multiple times and no offers were made. City leaders flirted with acquiring the Cadence Bank property last year, but moved away from the project after costs ballooned.
Carver and Little both cited future economic development plans—the search for a county industrial park site, the city's comprehensive plan, the planned-SOCSD partnership school and the Starkville Parks and Recreation Department parks study—as reasons to shy away from the tax hike.
Little pointed to obvious infrastructure needs spanning city drainage, pothole and road issues as another reason to vote against the increase.
"This board has to decide now what we want Starkville to be," Little said. "Streets and drainage are where the rubber hits the road."
Officials will be briefed on May 17 by GTR LINK officials as the city looks to select a future industrial park site. Officials previously said an additional millage rate increase could be made depending on which site is selected.
"[The SPD project] is clearly a piece of infrastructure that is well past due for renovation," Ward 4 Alderman Jason Walker said.
Last year, alderman approved a motion of intent to issue a $3 million partial renovation bond for the project. Project costs were initially estimated at around $1.3 million, but increased to $3 million. The previous board approved $1.3 million for the project, against public support, Carver said.
"I deal with a lot of business owners day-to-day and they are going to feel [the impact] of these taxes," Carver said. "They know that [the SPD project] isn't the only thing that could require a tax increase."
The SPD project will move forward with a tentative completion date of early April 2017. Construction documents could be prepared at the end of May, request for contractor proposals in June and in early July, a notice to proceed could be issued on the nine-month project timeline.
"We value everyone's service to our city," Walker said. "It is my hope that we can put this issue to rest. Increasing taxes is not something that should be taken lightly."