Apex Council Votes for New Police Station; Tax Rate Increase Possible
Apex residents could see their first tax rate increase in more than 20 years, as the town looks for ways to raise more than $9 million for a new police station.
Posted — UpdatedIt would be the town's first tax-rate increase in more than 20 years.
Apex Police Chief Jack Lewis said the aging police station is too small, unsafe and not secure.
"Once they are in here, there is a lot of access issues to the building," Lewis said.
If a person wanted to access what should be a restricted area, like the Investigative Division, they could walk right in, he said.
"You would like to have a little better level of secure control than that,” Lewis said.
It is not only easy to get into the station's so-called secure areas, the chief said at least one suspect has escaped in handcuffs.
Town leaders met Wednesday night to discuss expanding the police station to twice its size at a cost of more than $9 million.
"We do have money in the general fund. If that defers a tax increase, I'm for using that,” Apex Council Member Bill Sutton said.
The town council voted 4-1 to move forward with the expansion.
Apex is also considering building a new fire station, and that project could mean higher taxes as well.
The tax hike will be up for debate when the Apex Town Council sets next year's budget over the summer.
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