Measure Q sales tax will be wedded to other funding courses to help repay bonds needed to build a new police station plus the city’s fire station that will be located in southwest Manteca.

The bonding process will be discussed during Tuesday’s 6 p.m. City Council meeting. The actual vote that would lead to the issuance of revenue bonds is set for Oct. 20.

The funding plan includes:

*Development impact fees for eligible project costs which will close funding gaps.

*Government Building Facilities Fees would contribute to the police building.

*Fire Impact Fees would contribute to Fire Station No. 6. Fee contributions must reflect the costs attributable to new development.

The City will still pursue grants and any and all funding opportunities close gaps or reduce our obligations. Exact eligible shares and available contributions will be presented in more detail on Oct. 20.

The groundbreaking for the police station takes place Wednesday, Oct 7, at 10 a.m. in the 600 block of South Main Street.

The new police department project began in November of 2023.

Three separate engineering firms evaluated the current facility, focusing on structural, mechanical, and electrical aspects.

The new police station encompasses an operational area of 50,531 square feet, including 252 parking spaces for staff and the public.

The overall layout requires a minimum of 6 acres. In total, the new facilities will be approximately 52,898 square feet. That includes the headquarters and a support building.

The current police station’s initial building was completed in 1976. Manteca has 20,100 residents and 35 overall police personnel 50 years ago.

When the second building was added in 1990, the population was at 40,733 and there were 61 police personnel.

There were 102 police personnel in 2006 when modular buildings were added. The city had 61,927 resident at the time.

Manteca now has 98,000 residents.

There were 9,052 calls for service made to the fire department in 2020. Calls are on target to reach 12,851 by the end of 2026. That reflects a 26 percent increase.

The proposed bond financing would fund a portion of the fire station construction. Station No. 6 will be located near Woodward Avenue and Joshua Street.

The last station to open was in 2020 at Atherton Drive and Woodward Avenue in southeast Manteca.

About the process:

*A bond is like a loan.

*No voter approval required for Lease Revenue bonds.

*Impact fees and bond proceeds will fund the projects’ upfront costs.

*Accelerating projects avoids cost escalation Repayment over time spreads the cost of long lived facilities across years of use.

*Borrowing adds interest and financing costs, with a continuing City budget obligation which will be monitored and updated during the budget process.

*The Manteca Financing Authority would issue bonds to investors.

*Bond proceeds would help pay construction costs.

*The City would lease property and make scheduled lease payments from any legally available general funds. Those payments would repay bond principal and interest.

* City expects to use certain earmarked, but not pledged revenues (Measure Q) toward lease payments supporting debt service.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com