Frequently Asked Questions

Police Station Bond Proposal

Shall the City of Monroe, Michigan, borrow the principal sum of not to exceed Twelve Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($12,500,000), and issue its unlimited tax general obligation bonds, payable in not to exceed twenty-one (21) years, to pay the cost of acquiring, constructing, furnishing and equipping a police station as an addition to the existing fire station located on E. Third Street creating a public safety facility, including all site improvements? If approved, the estimated millage to be levied in 2023 is 0.98 mills ($0.98 per $1,000 of taxable value) and the estimated simple average annual millage rate required to retire the bonds is 0.97 mills ($0.97 per $1,000 of taxable value).

IN FAVOR_________________________YES

OPPOSED_________________________NO

Public Safety is a growing concern throughout the local community, and across the country.

A public safety facility must be tailored to meet the current space, technological, and operational efficiency of the City of Monroe Police Division to better serve the community. Support for this bond is an investment in the future of our community by providing a modern, updated facility for the police division, an accredited law enforcement agency, designed for essential cohesion with the fire station at 911 E Third. This will organically integrate our public safety model of shared, comprehensive and coordinated resources in a dual facility to continue to provide the level of protection our citizens deserve.

In order to do this, the new Police Division Facility Addition has been planned, designed, and with voter approval, will eventually be constructed to accommodate how the department will operate and function in the 21st century. Most police facilities continue to operate well past their planned lifespans. Changes in technology, current building codes, security issues, as well as updated modern building systems, require significant investment, both financially and in terms of community support, to update.

Constructing a new building will have a tremendous impact on service to the neighborhoods from an improved station/public service. This will provide an advanced work environment for police officers, allowing for enhanced capabilities, modern crime scene evidence processing, officer wellness resources, enhanced training facilities, efficiency of shared resources in a dual purpose facility, all the while benefiting citizens and customers alike.

With bond approval, the new Police Division Facility Addition would be adjacent to, and complement, the existing fire station. As such, it will support the Public Safety Department’s operational needs, as well as supporting community oriented policing efforts by way of its direct placement within a neighborhood setting, increasing accessibility to public services and programs.

An architect specializing in public safety planning and design conducted an assessment in 2022 of the current facility. The analysis identified significant space deficiencies, opportunities for technological improvements, improved safety for both personnel and citizens, as well as operational efficiency.

The new addition will provide up-to-date features for our public safety personnel, and benefit the community in the additional following ways:

INCREASE OPERATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS

• Improved staff workspace and modern technological improvements.
• Safer apparatus access and maneuverability, storage and other support spaces.
• Access to both first responder agencies for residents in close proximity.
• Improved emergency preparedness for call response.
• Operate as the City of Monroe Emergency Operations Center.

ENHANCE COMMUNITY OUTREACH

• Centralized location for Public Safety (fire and police) services, such as records access, permits, reporting, etc.
• Easily identifiable and accessible entrance with adequate parking.
• Visitor-friendly design that incorporates safety and convenience as a priority.
• Accommodating waiting area that serves both routine business transactions, as well as situationally sensitive concerns.
• The presence of a complete public safety facility, including both police and fire divisions, adds security to the neighborhood and piece-of-mind stability and comfort to citizens.
• Monitored environment for safe-swap zones.

EXPAND TRAINING AND PROGRAMS

• Utilizing the existing classroom/community room at the fire station as a shared resource for fire and police, to provide broader community programming by accommodating larger groups, such as social service organizations.
• Expanding department programs, including training, requires increased spatial needs.

According to the National Citizen Survey conducted in the City of Monroe in 2018, polled residents shared that safety concerns topped their list of local issues, with 90% of respondents confirming that it was “essential or very important” for the city leaders to address in the future. This is why it is extremely important to implement measures now to help ensure the public security and safety of those who live and work in the city (more information on this survey can be found here).

The police station bond proposal, a 21 year proposal, is estimated to be levied at .98 mills in 2023, which would cost approximately $49 per year for the average homeowner in Monroe who owns a home with a market value of $100,000.

Below are the costs for varying property values:



Estimated cost of a new facility is $14.5 million which includes construction and market contingencies. The bond request is for $12.5 million; the City is committed to fund up to $2.0 million from current resources to cover any contingency costs.

The City of Monroe and its residents have a long-term vision and commitment to upgrading infrastructure within our community. Over the past decade, improvements to bridges, parks and trails, roads, aggressive process to eliminate lead lines in our water distribution system, and a new fire station facility are among these initiatives.

These improvements have become especially relevant given future budget forecasts for tax revenue, as related to the decommission of our largest taxable entity.

Due to slow economic recovery after a 2009 global recession, the City has operated within a very constrained fiscal framework. Between 2009 and 2010, the City Council reduced $4 million from its annual general fund budget.
Additionally, revenue growth has declined in recent years, limiting the City’s ability to set aside funds for significant capital replacement. Despite this, the City maintained adequate financial reserves, funded its pension system obligations, and continued essential services.

Additional budget reductions have included the following: operational assessments and improvements; debt refinancing; health benefit changes; lower utility costs; intergovernmental collaboration; privatizing and contracting with external organizations; and reduced property and liability insurance costs.

For the last 21 years, the City of Monroe has received awards of excellence in fiscal reporting (audit), the highest form of recognition from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA), as well as their Budget Presentation Award.

The approval for and construction of a new Police Division Facility Addition will provide a positive impact on future economic development opportunities, by conveying long-term sustainability and investment in modern infrastructure, all the while fulfilling an immediate need and benefit for our first responders.

For more information on what the proposed design of the new Police Division Facility Addition is, please click here.

With bond approval, the new Police Division Facility Addition would be connected to, and complement, the existing fire station at 911 East Third Street. As such, it will support the Department’s operational needs, as well as supporting community oriented policing efforts by way of its direct placement within the neighborhood setting, increasing accessibility to public services and programs.

In 2016, voters approved a millage to finance a new fire station located at 911 East Third Street. The modern fire station was designed and constructed with the intention for future inclusion of a complimentary police facility, which is reflected in the current site plan, floor plan, and building elevation. Funding for a Police Division Facility Addition fulfills the original intention and subsequent public safety reorganization.

The police division of the Department of Public Safety is a proudly certified accredited agency.

Law enforcement accreditation is a self-initiated, voluntary process where agencies operate within a specific set of state and nationally recognized standards or best practices within the industry. Accrediting agencies compile these best practices and regulations to maintain and prove compliance with these standards, developing policies, training, and accountability measures.

A new facility will be optimal to further enhance these best practices and regulations, eliminate redundancy and improve operations, providing much needed space for personnel, equipment, evidence, documents, and more.

The Monroe Police Division occupies 8,512 square feet and shares another 3,385 square feet with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, located at 100 East Second Street. The shared facility was built in the mid-1970s.

Below is a breakdown of the space allocation in the current building:


An architect specializing in public safety planning and design conducted an assessment in 2022. The analysis indicates that 22,260 square feet would be necessary to meeting organizational capability. That is more than twice the square footage that is currently in use, representing an insufficiency of more than 10,000 square feet.

A public safety facility must be tailored to meet the current and anticipated needs of the department and community. In order to do this, a new Police Division Facility Addition has been planned, designed, and with voter approval, will be constructed to accommodate how the department will operate and function going forward.

Vacating the current police station at 100 East Second Street will provide Monroe County with the opportunity to consolidate additional operations.

If approved, construction could begin by late summer 2023. Completion would be expected by end of year, 2024.

Several other alternative solutions were considered in initial planning, including refurbishing existing structures to suit need. In each case however, estimated costs were comparable to building a new facility. Renovated facilities would not have the same long-term life expectancy as a new facility, nor the operational efficiencies and security benefits.

The City of Monroe takes pride in the appearance of its facilities as civic assets.
With bond approval, the new Police Division Facility Addition would be connected to, and complement, the existing fire station at 911 East Third Street.

The City has given thoughtful consideration to the proposed architecture of the building through the design process, and has taken steps to ensure that the final design is compatible, to the extent possible, with its neighboring structures.

Public Safety personnel are good neighbors and great role models for children in the neighborhood. Police and fire fighters enjoy getting to know their neighbors, and play an active role in helping increase preparedness and safety for families. They take great pride in keeping their stations and landscaping in excellent condition. Additionally, consistent traffic from our public safety officers provide an increased security presence and community engagement.

No. Jail services, including inmate processing and housing, will continue to occur at the Monroe County Sheriff Office building at 100 East Second Street.

No. With current technology, police officers are deployed outside the station and within the community. At any given time in the community, Monroe Police officers are assigned to patrol areas throughout the city.

Yes, the current modern fire station at 911 E Third Street was designed and constructed for future inclusion of a police addition, which is evident in the current land use and site layout. Subsequently, funding for a Police Division Facility Addition fulfills the original intention and subsequent organization restructuring.

No, this will be used exclusively for the construction of the police addition to the public safety facility located at 911 E Third Street. The bond authorization is very specific to this use and the site location.

The ballot language is a bond proposal. The ballot language is seeking authorization to issue $12.5 Million in bonds for the Police Division Addition project and specifically at that location. By State Statute, the ballot language must include the first year estimated millage rate and the estimated millage rate over the life of the bond debt payments.