Farmington Just Authorized Up to $25 Million in Bonds for Its Police Station
TLDR
On July 6, Farmington's council voted 5-0 to authorize up to $25 million in bonds for the police station project.
This is not a decision to build or to borrow — it just preserves the option.
If the city borrows the full amount, payments start in 2028 at about $1.6 million a year.
Construction is targeted for spring 2027 through fall 2028.
At its July 6 meeting, the Farmington City Council took the next step on its police station overhaul — authorizing up to $25 million in bonds. But if you only read the headline, you'd get the wrong idea. Here's the full picture on what the Farmington council did, and what it didn't.
What the council actually approved
After a public hearing, the council voted 5-0 to pass Resolution 2026-061, which adopts a capital improvement plan and authorizes general-obligation CIP bonds — a type of borrowing cities can use for buildings like police stations. The key word is authorizes. As the mayor put it plainly for the record, this was not a vote to build the police station, and it was not a vote to sell bonds. Those decisions come later.
A municipal advisor from Northland Securities walked the council through the rules: state law lets a city borrow for facilities like this, but only after a public hearing and a resolution, followed by a 30-day period during which residents could petition to force a public vote. The $25 million figure is a not-to-exceed ceiling — the city can borrow less, but not more, without starting over.
Why the station needs the work
None of the underlying need has changed since we covered the $20 million project and its design contract in May. The building opened in 2002 at 15,000 square feet, designed for 15 staff and a smaller city. Today the department has 32 staff and 12 patrol vehicles trying to fit in a garage built for six. A space study pegged the real need at about 36,000 square feet — more than double the current building — and a conditions assessment found $2 million-plus in deferred maintenance, mostly roof and mechanical work.
What it costs, and when
Here's the part residents care about most. If the city borrows the full amount, debt payments would begin in 2028 at roughly $1.6 million a year. During public comment, resident Nate Ryan urged the council to be upfront with taxpayers about that number now — and to consider whether other infrastructure needs should be bundled in so residents can plan ahead. The city's finance director said tax impacts are worked out during the annual budget cycle, which is just getting started for 2027.
A council member also asked a smart question: does authorizing $25 million but potentially using far less hurt the city's credit rating? The advisor's answer was no — it's common for cities to set a cushion, and using less has no negative effect on the rating.
What happens next
The project is in the design phase with architecture firm BKV, and quotes from construction managers were due the day after the meeting. From here: a document phase through the winter, bidding in early 2027, and construction from spring 2027 into fall 2028. The bond authority now sits ready if and when the council decides to use it.
For context on how the city has been staffing up its public-safety side, our February recap on the fire department going full-time is a good companion read.
The bottom line
The authority to borrow is now in place, but the real money decisions — how much to borrow, and what it does to your tax bill — land during the 2027 budget talks starting in August. If you want a say, that's the process to watch. Details on both are posted at farmingtonmn.gov.
FAQ
Did Farmington just take on $25 million in debt? No. It authorized the option to borrow up to that amount. No bonds have been issued.
Could residents stop it? There's a 30-day window after the resolution during which residents could petition to send the bonds to a public vote.
When do payments start? 2028 — roughly $1.6 million a year if the full amount is borrowed.
How big will the new station be? The space study points to about 36,000 square feet, up from 15,000 today.
When will construction actually happen? Targeted for spring 2027 through fall 2028.
