TEMPLE TERRACE \u2014 With a serious and likely costly conversation about the city\u2019s water right around the corner, city leaders are moving ahead with another pricey item, a new public safety complex, on the road to the ballot this summer.<\/p>\n
The Temple Terrace City Council was expected this week to take its first formal steps toward asking voters to approve up to $50 million in general obligation bonds to fund a new police station, new fire station and other facilities.<\/p>\n
At the first reading on April 7, council members voted unanimously to advance an ordinance that would place the General Obligation Bond referendum on the Aug. 18 primary ballot.<\/p>\n
The second reading, on April 21, was expected to pass without issue.<\/p>\n
The proposed complex, planned for 7911 Harney Road, is estimated to cost around $45 million. Plans call for a three-story, 33,000-square-foot police station and an 11,000-square-foot Fire Station 3.<\/p>\n
City officials also emphasized that the project would be funded separately from another looming expense, PFAS water remediation, to avoid confusion among residents.<\/p>\n
The public safety complex would be paid for through a voter-approved millage increase tied specifically to the bond. \u201cThe voted millage is for bricks, mortar and land acquisition,\u201d said Duane Draper of Bryant Miller Oliver P.A., the city\u2019s bond counsel, and is used exclusively to pay back bonds for specific capital improvements.<\/p>\n
A voted millage must be approved by residents and can only be used to pay debt of long-term projects like the proposed complex.<\/p>\n
According to the city\u2019s website, the estimated tax impact will be 0.90-0.98 mills in year one for a 30-year bond. That translates to roughly $180 to $185 annually for a home worth $200,000.<\/p>\n
The cost of remediating the city\u2019s PFAS dilemma has yet to be determined, though that total should be revealed next month. Whatever it is, and it’s expected to be in the 10s of millions, the costs will likely be covered by a revenue bond, which does not require voter approval. A revenue bond for PFAS remediation would be paid back through increased water and sewer rates, and is less expensive than taking out a bank loan.<\/p>\n
Temple Terrace residents will see both taxes identified separately on their tax bills.<\/p>\n
If approved, the bond would fund one of the city\u2019s largest capital projects in years, with the aim of modernizing public safety facilities while also accommodating future growth.<\/p>\n