The Georgetown, Texas, City Council last week turned down a proposal to reduce the size of a planned public safety facility that will be financed with $29.5 million of bonds approved by voters in May.
The council considered shrinking the planned 70,000-square-foot facility to reduce construction and operating costs, but the reduction was rejected.
Finance director Micki Rundell said a smaller facility would be cheaper to build and operate when it opens in 2014. The city will need only about 54,000 square feet of space initially, she said.
“Due to the economic conditions here, a lot of people are having problems,” she said.
The council turned down an option to reduce the space to 54,000 square feet and another one to build the entire structure but leave part of it unfurnished.
The facility, which will include police and fire department offices and an emergency operations center, is expected to cost $20 million.
