Woodbury seeks voter approval for public safety expansion
The Woodbury City Council heard a presentation Wednesday about a proposed Public Safety Campus Project that would expand police and emergency services facilities. Voters will decide in November whether to fund the $50 million project through a temporary half-percent sales tax or reject it and face higher property taxes instead.
Police Commander Tom Arenberg outlined the need for the expansion, citing over 57,000 annual service calls and 215 programs operating out of overcrowded facilities at Balet Creek Road and Radio Drive. The project would also integrate the Washington County service center and address traffic safety concerns when emergency vehicles respond to calls.
The city is proposing a temporary half-percent sales tax to fund the project, with the question appearing on the November 5th general election ballot. According to a University of Minnesota study cited by Arenberg, about 53% of the sales tax revenue would come from non-residents, meaning visitors and people who work in Woodbury would shoulder more than half the burden.
The funding choice presents a stark contrast for residents. If the sales tax passes, property taxes would increase by approximately $13 annually for the remainder of the tax period. If voters reject the sales tax, the city would need to fund the project primarily through property taxes, resulting in an estimated $54 annual increase—roughly a third more expensive than the sales tax option.
No official vote was taken at Wednesday's meeting, as this was a presentation of information ahead of the November ballot measure. The city is encouraging public engagement through its website at mn.gov/investinsafety and local events. Residents interested in learning more about the project and funding options can visit that website for additional details.
Our proprietary artificial intelligence agent analyzed publicly available documents including meeting agendas, minutes, and transcripts to write this story to help inform local residents. Feedback helps us improve, so please consider rating how we did with the thumbs up or down below.
Go deeper on this topic
Research related meeting documents and build a brief — without rewriting the story.
Full analysis
Public Safety Campus Project Funding Proposal Presentation
Commander Tom Arenberg detailed the rationale for the Public Safety Campus Project, citing increased service calls (over 57,000 annually) and programs (215), existing overcrowding, and traffic safety concerns. The project aims to expand facilities at Balet Creek Road and Radio Drive, integrating the Washington County service center. He presented the proposed funding mechanism: a temporary half-percent sales tax, projected to end in a third of the time compared to property tax funding alone. It was noted that non-residents are expected to contribute 53% of the sales tax revenue. Two funding scenarios were contrasted: if the sales tax passes (requiring a $13 annual property tax increase for the remainder) versus if it fails (requiring an estimated $54 annual property tax increase, deemed a third more expensive). Public engagement through the city website and local events was encouraged.
create an integrated Public Safety campus the public safety campus will alleviate traffic safety issues when emergency vehicles are responding to calls address workspace and equipment overcrowding and expand space to accommodate our service and program needs
The city is proposing a temporary half% sales tax to fund the public safety campus the sales tax question will be on the November 5th general election ballot
according to a University of Minnesota study non-residents May contribute about 53% of the sales tax revenue collected
if not passed most of the project will be paid for entirely from property taxes an estimated $54 annual increase in property taxes which is about a third more expensive of the two funding options
Source document
[0:01] hi this is Woodbury Police Commander Tom
[0:03] Arenberg and I'm here to talk about the
[0:05] public safety campus project and local
[0:07] option sales tax woodbury's team of EMS
[0:10] fire and police professionals are
[0:12] dedicated to serving the residents and
[0:14] visitors of Woodbury in fact we answer
[0:16] over 57,000 calls of service a year and
[0:20] provide about 215 programs in our
[0:23] community recognizing the importance of
[0:25] safety for both you and us the city
[0:27] plans to expand and remodel its existing
[0:30] public safety building at balet Creek
[0:32] Road and radio drive along with the
[0:34] Washington County service center to
[0:37] create an integrated Public Safety
[0:38] campus the public safety campus will
[0:41] alleviate traffic safety issues when
[0:43] emergency vehicles are responding to
[0:45] calls address workspace and equipment
[0:47] overcrowding and expand space to
[0:50] accommodate our service and program
[0:52] needs the city is proposing a temporary
[0:55] half% sales tax to fund the public
[0:58] safety campus the sales tax question
[1:00] will be on the November 5th general
[1:02] election ballot if passed a half% sales
[1:06] tax will equate to adding a nickel to
[1:09] every $10 taxable purchase funds from
[1:12] the sales tax will be dedicated solely
[1:14] to the project and will end when funding
[1:16] reaches $50 million or in 20 years
[1:19] whichever comes first current
[1:21] projections show that if the sales tax
[1:23] is used Project funding will be complete
[1:25] in a third of the time the city sees
[1:27] sales tax as a shared investment because
[1:30] residents and visitors alike will share
[1:32] in funding the services they use
[1:34] according to a University of Minnesota
[1:36] study non-residents May contribute about
[1:39] 53% of the sales tax revenue collected
[1:43] if passed the sales tax will pay for the
[1:45] majority of the project the remaining
[1:47] Project funding will come from Grants
[1:49] along with a $13 annual increase in
[1:52] property taxes if not passed most of the
[1:55] project will be paid for entirely from
[1:57] property taxes an estimated $54 annual
[2:01] increase in property taxes which is
[2:03] about a third more expensive of the two
[2:05] funding options to learn more about the
[2:07] project and funding options go to
[2:09] Woodbury mn.gov
[2:11] investin safety and follow the city's
[2:13] social media sign up free in touch and
[2:16] keep your eyes open for opportunities to
[2:18] meet with us at local events throughout
[2:20] the summer and fall
Was this story helpful?
Want to know when new stories arrive?
Enter your email to receive updates.
We will not use your email for any other purpose. You can unsubscribe at any time.