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Tuesday, June 19, 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DECATUR – The City is now gathering public input on proposed methods to fund construction of a new Decatur Police Department facility.

Residents can now take a survey polling residents about methods that have been suggested to pay for the facility on the City’s web site at www.decaturil.gov. The survey is located near the bottom of the left side of the page. It details several options for covering what is estimated to be a $15-$17 million cost for the new facility, necessary for a department in need of critical evidence storage locations, interview facilities and other operational space.

Options under consideration at the present time include:

• An increase in the local property tax. The increase necessary would equal $3-$4 per month for a home valued at $100,000.
• An increase in the local utility tax from 1.25% to 2%, which would equal about $3.50 per month for an average utility bill.
• The creation of a local gas tax of 3 cents per gallon. This would equal about 45 cents per fill-up for a car with a 15-gallon tank.
• Some combination of the options listed above.

There is also space for residents to suggest their own options on the survey.

Studies indicate that the department is in need of about 60,000 square feet of space to meet policing needs. While an exact location for the proposed building has not been identified, the City has indicated a preference for building either in the Wabash Crossing area or at a location close to where the current police facility is located downtown.

Both Decatur City Council members and City Manager Ryan McCrady indicated that the city’s recently upgraded bond issue and low current interest rates work in favor of finding a funding source now for a new building.

Contact Ryan McCrady at 217-424-2801 for more information.