OVIEDO, Fla. — After years of trying and failing, Oviedo leaders are coming to terms with the fact residents don’t want to pay for a new police station.
▶ WATCH CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS
Monday night, council members decided to pursue renovations to the existing police building, which has been considered too small and outdated to meet the growing city’s needs.
Read: Operation Silent Night cleans the street of drugs before the holidays
After a previous bond referendum, the city has more than $11 million to work with, but that is not enough to build an entirely new building. Two additional bond referendums asking voters to pay more to make up the difference have each been shot down.
A recent survey showed that most respondents didn’t want to pay an extra dime for upgrades. Many wrote that the city spends too much time begging for money instead of working within its budget.
Read: Orlando International Airport prepares for the holiday travel season
Considering the findings, the city manager proposed adding a garage to the back of the building to free up space for repurposing.
Ultimately, he said he’d meet with engineers to see what is possible while continuing to adhere to code and security requirements.
Read: Several people hurt during hazmat fire in Orlando, firefighters say
Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.