Millions of dollars for a new RCMP building have already been spent, some of which taxpayers can deduct from the amount still needed to replace the dilapidated Prince George detachment.
The total amount for the new building is pegged by city council at about $40 million, that includes everything, not just the construction phase.
According to municipal officials, the amount already paid to get the project to this point is $6,180,111. The Citizen has learned that this was spent on:
- Land acquisition,
- Project design,
- Construction documentation,
- Construction manager services.
The municipality has pre-authorization to borrow almost $24 million and is in the process of getting public approval to add another $14 million to put towards this project. There are some funds in city reserves and some grants the city has applied for.
"The current timing of this project will allow the city to capitalize on historically low financing rates, below-market loan rates and grants through the FCM (Federation of Canadian Municipalities) Green Municipal Fund, and a competitive construction market," said Mayor Dan Rogers. "This new facility will meet the city's policing needs into the future and represents another significant municipal investment in creating a better downtown."
Public permission is needed to borrow the whole amount required to complete the proposed building. That takes a public referendum.
A full referendum would be costly, so B.C. municipalities (thanks to a provision built into the provincial government's Community Charter legislation) are given the option of using what is called the alternate approval process.
The AAP allows for the question to be posed to the public for a specified period of time, and if the public mounts enough opposition in the form of signed petitions, the whole thing goes to an all-out referendum. But if there is little or no opposition, the motion passes, allowing the issue to move ahead more quickly. That is the option now on the table.
Public hearings will be called for soon on the issue of borrowing the money for the new police building.
