Dallas city officials have estimated that an additional $178.5 million will be required to construct a new 20-acre police academy at the University of North Texas at Dallas (UNTD), along with a 60-acre public safety complex potentially located near Wilmer-Hutchins High School in southeast Oak Cliff.
This projected funding requirement follows a prior commitment of $96.5 million from the city, bringing the total estimated budget for the project to $275 million.
To close the funding gap, city officials are relying on nearly $50 million in private fundraising and proceeds from the sale of city-owned real estate to cover 20% of the shortfall.
Additionally, they anticipate a potential sponsorship of $6 million for the public safety complex, according to a recent presentation.
Council member Paul Ridley expressed concerns regarding the financial strategy.
“I’d like to see more certainty about how we can reduce the cost of the facility or raise more money to close that gap,” Ridley stated.
At a City Hall meeting, opposition to the police academy was voiced by almost a dozen public speakers, many of whom urged the city to redirect resources towards addressing other social issues.
Behind closed doors, council members spent considerable time deliberating on an agreement with UNTD to lease the training academy site.
After four hours of private discussions, they ended the meeting shortly after reconvening.
“We decided to defer the remaining items for the briefing because our executive session went so long,” Ridley said, adding that the council wished to approach the academy discussions with fresh perspectives.
A vote is scheduled for June 11 regarding the agreement with UNTD for leasing the training site aimed at preparing new recruits for the police force.
Council member Paula Blackmon emphasized the need for a methodical approach.
“I think we need to get each hurdle cleared before we go to the next one,” she said.
The initial challenge is to secure the necessary real estate for the public safety complex.
Then, the council will focus on finalizing property details and the elements of the complex itself.
“This is about being very thoughtful and methodical and just clearing each hurdle,” Blackmon remarked.
This discussion marks the second delay regarding the update on academy progress; council members had initially planned an update for May 21, but that briefing was postponed.
An important question for the city will be how it prioritizes the revenue derived from real estate sales, particularly since Dallas is facing billions in deferred maintenance across roads, buildings, and neighborhoods.
Moreover, the mandates from the passage of Proposition U in last year’s election loom over the city’s planning process.
This measure requires that the city maintain a force of 4,000 officers and allocate half of any new yearly revenue into the uniformed pension system, as well as other public safety initiatives aimed at recruiting and retaining first responders.
Council member Cara Mendelsohn expressed her support for the academy.
“It’s the most important investment for Dallas to make,” she affirmed.
“We must be able to have a space that helps us recruit, retain, and [professionally] train our police officers.
It shows we prioritize public safety and value those who take the oath to protect and serve.”
Changes to the original plans for the police academy have emerged.
The Dallas Morning News reported that despite the millions committed to the project, the city had altered plans, which initially designated the UNT Dallas campus for future training of all Dallas police hires.
The current police academy in Red Bird has faced ongoing criticism from officers due to its inadequacies: a lack of sufficient storage, mold, limited parking, and outdated training rooms have highlighted the urgent need for a new facility.
Former discussions characterized the UNTD location as a training ground for new recruits; however, documents have suggested that the city intends to shift focus to housing a facility merely for serving officers already on duty, with the relocation of new recruit training remaining unspecified.
Recent discussions about the academy have returned to the original intent of situating the training for new recruits at UNTD—with the addition of a separate public safety complex featuring a driving track and shooting range.
City officials have announced plans to initiate a feasibility study this year to investigate optimal locations for the complex amid five sites reviewed, including Hensley Field and Cadillac Heights.
As of now, the Wilmer-Hutchins High School area appears to be the favored choice, as indicated in the latest presentation which stated that it “meets most of the criteria.”
The projected budgets for similar facilities have varied widely, ranging from $180 million to $1.5 billion, with average costs of examined facilities landing around $330 million.
Community opposition swelled during public comments, with residents voicing their concerns amidst the ongoing uncertainty regarding the complex’s location and its proposed features such as a simulated tactical village.
District two resident Tamera Lanay expressed skepticism towards the initiative.
The briefing, according to Lanay, did not adequately reflect the recent decline in violent crime rates within Dallas over the past four years.
As the city grapples with prevailing economic uncertainties and diminishing rental assistance amid potential federal budget cuts, Lanay emphasized the disparity in public safety funding compared to social services.
She remarked, “When you look at the city budget, there’s a stark difference in public safety funding compared to social services.”
Recalling her own reliance on community support rather than city resources for rental assistance, she voiced a belief that hardships fuel criminal behavior.
“This new facility is not a crime deterrent,” she stated firmly.
“To truly enhance safety in the city, we need to invest in health, job stability, food security, and housing security.”
Student Lindsay Linderman from UNTD echoed similar concerns about the initiative, arguing that a militarized police force would not effectively prevent crime.
She urged for increased community resources directed towards education, housing, and food security.
Linderman criticized the existing policing structure, asserting that it often punishes residents rather than protecting them.
Expressing her frustration with clear communication around funding allocations, she questioned the labeling of Proposition F, which directed taxpayer dollars to the facility, claiming it was intentionally misleading by combining the academy with urgent repairs needed for fire stations in the area.
As deliberations continue, the future of the police academy and public safety complex hang in the balance amid funding challenges and community sentiment.
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