Residents debate bond for police station

Chief says current quarters are too cramped, supports $23 million bond package.

Lakeway residents are weighing whether to vote May 6 for a $23 million bond package to build a 31,000-squarefoot police station in the heart of the city.

A city subcommittee and Police Chief Todd Radford have said the existing police station is too cramped for the growing city — and police equipment, evidence and employees are feeling the strain of the small space.

During the city’s third town hall event April 6, residents asked questions about crime in the city, how the tax rate would be affected, the timeline of the project and the cost per square footage of the proposed police station.

George and Jan Monroe, who live in Tuscan Village, like the idea of having a police station directly across the street from them.

“You’ve got to keep up with how many people you’ve got to protect,” Jan Monroe said. “Taxes are the cost of paying for civilization. Austin has big problems because things haven’t grown fast enough to fit the people moving in. We don’t want to see that happen to Lakeway.”

John Caporal said he’s “not sold” on the idea of the police station. If the police department is responding to more crashes and traffic incidents, Caporal argued, why not spend less money for other solutions? “Why not save money to make the roads wider so we have less collisions?” Caporal asked. “I don’t see the need for this.”

Regis Ingram, who frequently attends council meetings, said the cost of the bond plus interest for the next 25 to 30 years is not a weight he’s willing to bear on his fixed income. Ingram said he is firmly against the taxpayer expense of the proposed police station. “What is the benefit to me?” Ingram asked. “I’m not going to go eat lunch there.”

Melanie DeMayo is a supporter of the city’s bond proposal. “I’m concerned about the ability of the current police facility to properly house evidence,” DeMayo said. “We’re growing, we’re going to see more crime, and we’re going to have more evidence.”

The city has projected the monthly cost of the bond to the average homeowner to be $10.27, based on the city’s average home value of $472,001 and an interest rate of 4.48 percent. If the bond is paid off over 30 years at that interest rate, city officials say the total cost will be $44.5 million.