Dallas officials recently presented updated schematic designs for the city’s long-awaited new police academy, but the question of how to pay for the project remains unresolved.
The full cost of the police academy and related public safety facilities is now estimated at $275 million, according to the city’s public safety committee.
Voters approved $50 million for the project as part of the city’s $1.25 billion bond package last year, a figure some city council members say is no longer sufficient given the size and scope of the plans.
Council member Cara Mendelsohn, who chairs the public safety committee, said that the city underestimated the project’s needs from the start. Mendelsohn pointed to Plano, where voters recently approved a $51 million bond to build a police training center in a city far smaller than Dallas, according to the Dallas Morning News. Dallas has roughly 1.3 million residents, compared to Plano’s population of about 299,000.
The largest share of the project involves a new 20-acre police academy at the University of North Texas at Dallas with that portion alone carrying an estimated price tag of $185 million. City officials told council members they have secured $96.5 million so far through a mix of state funding and private donations, leaving a sizable gap that will need to be filled before construction can be completed.
The push for a new academy is driven in part by longstanding issues at the existing Red Bird police training facility, which spans 63 acres across two aging warehouse sites. City officials have cited problems including mold, worn-down training areas, limited storage, and inadequate parking. The goal, they say, is to build a modern facility comparable to police academies in other major North Texas cities.
Beyond the UNT Dallas site, the city also plans a separate 60-acre public safety complex estimated to cost $90 million. Officials have not yet outlined how that portion will be funded. Previous briefings, cited by The Dallas Morning News, have mentioned the possible sale of city-owned real estate, though those funds may also be needed for other priorities.
While funding questions remain, council members across the public safety committee stressed the importance of keeping the project on track after years of delays. Assistant city manager Dev Rastogi said the city’s strategy is to rely on private fundraising and to spend funds as they become available.
Author
