There are several means by which a public facility can be funded. The first is through the general operating funds of the entity and is traditionally included in their Capital Improvements Program.(CPI)

Should funds not be available through this source, cities, counties and parishes have placed issues on the ballot to be approved via a voter bond or tax referendum. Seven out of the past eight recent bond referendums for public safety facilities have been approved by voters, representing a voter/citizen understanding of the important quality of life issues that are involved.

Grant funds are also available through a variety of state and federal agencies as well as from large public-oriented foundations such as the Pew Charitable Trust and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, to name just a few. There are few grant opportunities for “bricks and mortar”, but departments can seek funding for other items from vehicles to uniforms freeing up funds that can then be allocated toward a new facility. There are, in that regard, potential grants for almost anything in a police and fire station.

Cities and Counties also have bonding capacity based on their revenue sources and these revenue sources can be used to issue general obligation bonds that can be used to pay for new or renovated facilities. The point being, that the funding of new facilities is, in many respects, a product of understanding and identifying where potential sources of funding are available and engaging in a definitive effort to put into place the “process” that makes it become a reality.