By Harry Allen, Municipal Advisor

Slinger Moves Forward with New Police Station as Community Grows

Since 2015, the Village of Slinger has been exploring long-term solutions to address the growing needs of its police department. Located in Washington County, the Village has experienced significant growth, with its population increasing 80% from 3,645 in 2000 to 6,575 in 2024. Continued development – such as Merchant Village and several planned residential projects – is expected to further strain the capacity of the existing police facilities.

Currently, the Slinger Police Department operates out of the same 14,400-square-foot building as Village Hall. Completed in 2000, the facility houses administrative offices on one side and the police department on the other. As staffing levels have increased to keep up with population growth, the need for additional space has become evident. After careful deliberation, the Village Board opted to pursue a new, standalone facility rather than expanding the existing building. To better understand the department’s spatial needs, the Village engaged FGM Architects, whose study recommended a 25,410-square-foot facility dedicated solely to the police department.

With this decision made, the focus shifted to financing with the goal of still funding other known projects in the near-term. The Village identified a variety of additional pressing needs including infrastructure maintenance, equipment purchases, tax increment district projects, and future facility upgrades. The goal was clear: make these projects a reality while minimizing the impact on taxpayers.

The new police station was initially estimated to cost $16.7 million, with nearly an equal amount of additional projects anticipated over the next four years when financing discussions began in late 2022. Two main concerns quickly emerged: (1) the utilization of the state-imposed limit on general obligation (“G.O”) debt, and (2) the potential annual tax burden on residents. Financing the police station through traditional G.O. debt proved unfeasible, as even the maximum 20-year term resulted in an annual taxpayer cost deemed higher than desirable. On top of this, the debt limit utilization would climb north of 75%. Few options exist to finance municipal facility projects outside of general obligation debt, so it was time to hit the drawing board.

The USDA Community Facilities Direct Loan & Grant Program was initially attractive due to its up to 40-year term and favorable interest rates. The Village Board determined to pursue the full 40-year option as the longer term would limit the annual impact on taxpayers while better matching the repayment term to the useful life of the building. However, further analysis revealed that the program’s construction requirements could significantly increase project costs – potentially offsetting any interest savings. From there, the Village had to get very creative and decided to pursue a Lease Revenue Bond offering to finance the project.

Village administration and staff  were pleased with how the total full financing plan came together. “The Village of Slinger always appreciates the support and expertise we receive from Ehlers, but their work on this project went above and beyond. Their assistance in exploring and evaluating our funding options was crucial in bringing this to a successful conclusion,” stated Village Administrator Margaret Wilber.

The Village bid the project in early 2025 and much to their surprise, received a winning bid that was $2.7 million under expectations. Shortly afterward, the Village selected an underwriter through a competitive process and successfully issued Lease Revenue Bonds in April 2025 through a negotiated offering. Although structured over 40 years, the bonds were issued with a 25-year initial term due to limited investor appetite for a full 40-year duration.

The Lease Revenue Bonds are secured by an annual appropriation from the Village to the Village’s Redevelopment Authority. The annual appropriation will be funded by the Village’s property tax levy by increasing the claimed debt adjustment to include a portion of the Village’s abated G.O. debt as the Lease Revenue Bond debt service is not exempt from state-imposed levy limits itself.

Construction on the new police station officially began with a groundbreaking on May 28, 2025, and the station is expected to be completed by late 2026. Looking ahead, the Village plans to repurpose the existing facility to enhance community services. The adjacent library will relocate into the current Village Hall building, while Village Hall operations will move into the existing library space. This realignment will allow the library to expand its offerings and create a more efficient and community-centered municipal campus.

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