A Starter Guide to Finding Police Department Funding for Renovation Projects

People choose to go into law enforcement for many reasons to protect, to serve others, to make communities safer but the reason isn’t typically to work on building renovations. Although police officers are not trained in planning and designing new buildings for their departments, capital projects usually fall onto their shoulders when the time comes for renovation or upgrades.

Capital projects can include construction of a new facility, as well as expansion, renovation, or replacement of an existing building. Evidence lockers, gear lockers, and weapons racks are generally considered capital improvements. If you want to pursue a capital project, you’ll probably need to look beyond your typical annual budget for additional funding sources. Luckily, there are more options for securing police department funding than you might think.

Leftover Department Budget

Most police departments’ budgets are approved by a governing board, such as a city council. These budgets include operational and capital expenditures, but typically follow a use it or use it policy. At the end of the fiscal year, leftover budget monies can be used to partially fund capital projects if you have a plan in place and move quickly.

Bonds and Special Taxes

Municipal bonds are a common way to get private funding for public capital projects. A less common method is a short-term tax with revenue earmarked for specific capital projects. Often, these are ballot initiatives, so it’s important to get community and influencer support.

Federal and state grants are available for certain types of public safety projects. Grants, such as Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance, or USDA Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant Program, require an extensive application process. It can be helpful to have an experienced grant writer prepare the application and budget materials.

Leases

Municipal leases allow the transfer of capital improvement needs from capital budgets to operating budget expenses. Equipment used for day-to-day activities, such as evidence lockers or gear lockers, can be purchased this way in some cases. State and local laws vary on this policy, so talk to your city attorney or administrator about the options available in your community.

Property Auctions

Auctioning off certain categories of unclaimed property and evidence after a certain period of time can help bring in general funding that, at times, can be earmarked for specific uses. Most of these auctions are handled by third party auction houses and websites like PropertyRoom.com

Purchasing Contracts

Many states and organizations have purchasing agreements with specific companies for procuring equipment and other capital project materials. Utilizing contracts such as NJPA can help your department secure better pricing to reduce the amount of police department funding needed.Explore our budget-friendly options for small police departments.