Geneva is lining up three public open houses in February to walk residents through a proposed $59.4 million bond that would pay for a new police station and other public safety needs. City officials say the current patchwork headquarters is past its prime and want voters fully briefed on taxes, timelines, and site plans before they head to the polls for the March 17 primary election.
Open houses and who will be there
The city has scheduled sessions for Feb. 4 (6:30 to 8:30 p.m.), Feb. 18 (10 a.m. to noon), and Feb. 25 (6:30 to 8:30 p.m.) at the Geneva Public Library, 227 S. Seventh St., and is encouraging residents to RSVP. According to the City of Geneva, the Strategic Plan Advisory Committee will host informational stations where attendees can talk with city staff, Geneva Police representatives, and outside experts in architecture, finance, and project management.
What the ballot asks and who pays
The City Council has approved a $59.4 million public safety referendum for the March 17 primary ballot that would fund construction of a new police station and address some needs at the city’s firehouses. As reported by Shaw Local, the city has posted an online tax-impact calculator to help homeowners estimate how the bond could affect their property tax bills.
Why officials say a new station is needed
City officials describe the current police headquarters as a stitched-together complex built in phases in 1915, 1953, and 1987 that now struggles with modern demands. Problems have included recurring roof leaks, sewer backups that have caused flooding, a recent partial ceiling collaps,e and rodent complaints. Per the City of Geneva, the preferred replacement site is city-owned land on South Street next to the Public Works facility, and the early plan would remove two city-owned baseball fields to make room for the new station.
A previous ballot glitch
This is not Geneva’s first attempt to bring a large public safety bond to voters. The city pulled an earlier, larger $68 million referendum from the April 2025 ballot after officials found a formula mistake that would have roughly doubled the projected property tax impact, a move reported by the Daily Herald. The City Council rescinded that measure in January 2025, and city leaders say they are working to spell out costs more clearly this time.
How to take part
Residents can reserve a spot and choose a preferred date using the city’s Google RSVP form, which lists all three February open houses and links to the city’s referendum materials and tour sign-up. The form also notes that guided in-person tours of the current station are available, and that a virtual tour is posted for those who cannot make it in person.
