N. Aurora ready to OK funds for new cop shop

A $13.9 million budget for a new North Aurora police facility to be built at the northwest corner of Route 31 and Airport Road could be approved Monday, officials said this week.

The village this week took steps to issue the bonds that will be needed to fund the new 30,000-square-foot complex.

In earlier estimates, village officials repeatedly said the facility would cost between $10 and $12 million. However, Village Administrator Sue McLaughlin said those numbers were from several years ago and several factors - including vast increases in material costs - have driven the budget to $13.9 million.

Police Chief Tom Fetzer said the new number was an estimate too, but he said it was on the "high side" of what the costs for the facility. Other officials said they would like residents to know the village will get a facility it needs and not something more.

"Just because it is the budget doesn't mean we are going to spend every dollar," Trustee Linda Mitchell said. "This was an extremely well-thought-out and efficient planning process. We're putting in what we need. It's not extravagant."

Village Finance Director Bill Hannah said the way the village will pay for the project also has the ability to come in under budget.

Hannah said the village will look to land about $8 million or $9 million in general obligation bonds this October, with more bonds being issued in about a year. The village will have a better estimate of what the actual cost of the facility once construction has started and will only need to borrow what it needs.

The effect of the two-phase bond issuance, Hannah said, is an efficient process that will save the village money.

"We are going to borrow just what we need now and avoid paying interest on the rest for a year," Hannah said.

He said bonds for public facilities are typically 20-year notes, and the village has pledged to pay them off using sales-tax revenue.

The village board could approve the project budget at 7 p.m. Monday at village hall, 25 E. State Street. The bond issuance will also be on the agenda; however, the board can not authorize the bonds without a public hearing.