Oxford meeting reveals plans for building new police garage
OXFORD – The Village of Oxford held a special meeting on Wednesday night to inform the public on an upcoming garage construction vote and its potential cost to the community.
The meeting was held at the Oxford Fire Department, and the speakers focused on why the village police department needs a garage, how they planned on paying for it, and where it would be located.
"The garage has been an ongoing consideration since 2013," said the Village of Oxford Mayor Terry Stark.
Stark said in prior years the police department would share spaces with other agencies such as the village's department of public works and waste water treatment plant facility.
He said as those departments grew, they required more space, ultimately resulting in the police vehicles needing to be stationed elsewhere.
"By building this garage, we could eliminate the need to share space between departments," said Stark. "It would also save us money in the long run, because we wouldn't need to lease a space for the vehicles."
Stark said the village currently spends $3,600 a year in leasing space for the police vehicles, but could avoid the annual costs by building a garage instead.
"The issue is, after 10 years of leasing, we'll have spent $36,000 with nothing to show for it," said Stark.
During the meeting he said part of the project would be paid for with reserve funds collected through local traffic tickets, sales tax, and other left-overs from the general fund each year.
Stark said while the Village of Oxford averages around $35,000 a year in revenue from collected fines. He said the majority is spent on emergency services and other city operations, and not put into the reserve fund.
According to a village document distributed during the meeting, "The estimated cost of the 1,500 square foot facility is $75,000 and will be paid from the village reserve funds."
The estimated annual operating expenses would be $1,700 and the document also states, "There will be no property tax increase due to this proposal."
According to Stark, the village has been saving money in its reserve fund for over five years to afford the construction and to avoid taking out a loan that would result in increased taxes for the area.
"We didn't want to increase taxes, so we saved up the money over time. If we build this garage, it may be more expensive upfront, but we'll end up with a building that has over $86,000 in equity," he said.
According to the village document, the garage would be located on village property near the head start facility in the Village of Oxford at 44 North Washington Ave.
It states the property already has a paved driveway, space for additional parking, and accessibility to electric, water, and sewer while only requiring little excavation.
Stark said if the need for a police garage were to lessen in the future, the village could sell the property to earn back building costs.
A vote on the construction will take place on June 26 during the village's regular board meeting. If approved, the project is expected to be bid on by July then completed by late fall.
The meeting was held at the Oxford Fire Department, and the speakers focused on why the village police department needs a garage, how they planned on paying for it, and where it would be located.
"The garage has been an ongoing consideration since 2013," said the Village of Oxford Mayor Terry Stark.
Stark said in prior years the police department would share spaces with other agencies such as the village's department of public works and waste water treatment plant facility.
He said as those departments grew, they required more space, ultimately resulting in the police vehicles needing to be stationed elsewhere.
"By building this garage, we could eliminate the need to share space between departments," said Stark. "It would also save us money in the long run, because we wouldn't need to lease a space for the vehicles."
Stark said the village currently spends $3,600 a year in leasing space for the police vehicles, but could avoid the annual costs by building a garage instead.
"The issue is, after 10 years of leasing, we'll have spent $36,000 with nothing to show for it," said Stark.
During the meeting he said part of the project would be paid for with reserve funds collected through local traffic tickets, sales tax, and other left-overs from the general fund each year.
Stark said while the Village of Oxford averages around $35,000 a year in revenue from collected fines. He said the majority is spent on emergency services and other city operations, and not put into the reserve fund.
According to a village document distributed during the meeting, "The estimated cost of the 1,500 square foot facility is $75,000 and will be paid from the village reserve funds."
The estimated annual operating expenses would be $1,700 and the document also states, "There will be no property tax increase due to this proposal."
According to Stark, the village has been saving money in its reserve fund for over five years to afford the construction and to avoid taking out a loan that would result in increased taxes for the area.
"We didn't want to increase taxes, so we saved up the money over time. If we build this garage, it may be more expensive upfront, but we'll end up with a building that has over $86,000 in equity," he said.
According to the village document, the garage would be located on village property near the head start facility in the Village of Oxford at 44 North Washington Ave.
It states the property already has a paved driveway, space for additional parking, and accessibility to electric, water, and sewer while only requiring little excavation.
Stark said if the need for a police garage were to lessen in the future, the village could sell the property to earn back building costs.
A vote on the construction will take place on June 26 during the village's regular board meeting. If approved, the project is expected to be bid on by July then completed by late fall.
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