Southampton family gives $1 million toward public safety complex
Published: 10-04-2024 5:42 PM
Modified: 10-04-2024 8:47 PM |
SOUTHAMPTON — As the current police and fire stations wear away with age, a new public safety complex has been high on the town’s priority list for some time now. With a parcel of land secured for the new building, attention is now focused on funding to pay off the land acquisition and fund eventual construction, and the town is set to receive more financial assistance than leaders had expected.
With a $1 million donation from the Boyle family to pay for the land, and an additional $1 million earmarked for the complex expected to pass in a state economic development bill, Southampton is making great strides in its endeavor to construct the new complex along College Highway.
The current fire station, built out of a schoolhouse constructed in 1863, and the current police station, which operated out of the former town hall building constructed in 1904, pose major difficulties for the two departments due to space constraints and aging infrastructure.
At the annual Town Meeting in May, voters approved the acquisition of a 52-acre property at 117-225 College Highway, which was identified as not only the ideal spot for a new public safety complex to house both the Police and Fire departments, but also as the potential location of other needed projects including a new senior center and possibly affordable housing.
In June, voters took to the ballot box to approve a $2.2 million debt exclusion override to pay for this parcel, which the town officially closed on last week. The exclusion was expected to raise resident’s property taxes by about $0.10 per $1,000, though the increase would only last until the needed funds were raised. Now, an unexpected $1 million donation from the Boyle family has cut that needed borrowing amount almost in half.
The Boyles have pledged the gift in the form of a mutual fund to be held by the town for the purpose of the property acquisition. When announced by Select Board Chair Chris Fowles at a Select Board meeting Tuesday evening, it was stated that the donors gave this gift “in an effort to alleviate the financial impacts on the town and its taxpayers of this property acquisition.”
The family had previously owned the property, which the town acquired from its most recent owners, brothers James and Eugene Labrie, dating back to the 1940s. Fowles said that town officials are working on a “thank you” letter to the family to make clear their gratitude for this “incredibly generous gift.”
“This is kind of an interesting full circle,” said Fowles. “That gets us a good start on all of the projects that we want to do, from the public safety complex to the senior center, some affordable housing perhaps, and various other uses that are coming forward to us still.”
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With this gift by the Boyles, the town will now need to borrow only $1.2 million for the land acquisition. But more financial assistance for the public safety complex project is expected to flow to the town if the Legislature passes the economic development bill currently moving through Beacon Hill.
State Sen. John Velis and state Rep. Kelly Pease both paid the town a visit at Tuesday’s Select Board meeting to explain the work on this bill, which they expect to pass soon, and to hear from board members about the needs of the town.
Velis said the Senate’s version of the bill (S.2869) includes $1 million in bond money for the construction of the public safety complex, while Pease said the House’s version (H.4804) puts forth $150,000 for its construction. The two versions of the bill are currently being reconciled in a conference committee. The final funding amount awarded to Southampton will depend on the conference report and Gov. Maura Healey’s eventual bond allocation for state funding in the five-year capital plan.
“That’s gonna pass and that’s gonna be in there,” said Velis. “Then the fun begins.”
The town is still in talks about how to use the remaining acreage not expected to be needed for the new public safety complex and senior center. In addition to affordable housing, other ideas include sports fields and courts, recreation space, conservation land and more. Through public collaboration and communication between boards, committees, stakeholders and others, officials hope to use the land for projects that will yield the most positive impacts for residents.
Alexa Lewis can be reached at alewis@gazettenet.com.