Latest news with #NorthPortPolice
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
North Port Special Election could bring new police department after over overcrowding
The Brief A North Port Special Election could bring a new police department to help ease the strain on city services. That includes up to $115 million dollars in bonds to help pay for a new police headquarters. Since 2006, North Port Police has seen its staff double to 206 positions while they protect a population of more than 90,000. NORTH PORT, Fla. - Residents in North Port are voting in a special election on Tuesday that could help ease the strain on city services. That includes up to $115 million dollars in bonds to help pay for a new police headquarters. For the last few years, the North Port Police Department has been bursting at the seams. It's had to get creative by doing things like converting closets into office space. The City of North Port said the outcome of this special election is crucial. What they're saying "As the city continues to grow, we just need to keep pace, keep our city as safe as we can and make sure our infrastructure keeps up with our growth," said Mayor Phil Stokes. A new proposed department would be built off of Toledo Blade, but the City needs voters to approve a referendum for $115 million dollars in bonds. Mayor Phil Stokes is urging residents to vote yes. "Without a doubt they are needs, not wants," said Mayor Stokes. Big picture view At the current police department, a conference room houses two offices and a storage closet has been turned into a commander's office. Since 2006, North Port Police has seen it's staff double to 206 positions while they protect a population of more than 90,000. "We've been trying to do everything we could to utilize as much space as possible to put new people's positions in the headquarters here, said Deputy Chief Chris Morales. READ: Church of Scientology makes rare appearance during Clearwater meeting on closing downtown street Last year, Deputy Chief Chris Morales took FOX 13 on a tour to show us how the department has utilized as much space as possible, but that space has run out. "Mission critical. We are 185% above capacity. This venture started in 2017 when we ran out of space for evidence and property," he said. If the bonds are approved the average homeowner with a property value of $246 thousand dollars would see a property tax increase of around $121 a year, which is about $10 dollars a month or .33 cents a day. "This is a facility that will take us out to 40 years which will handle the growth curve and god we certainly don't want to underestimate our need again as has happened in the past," said Mayor Stokes. Also on the ballot are two city charter changes. One of which would allow the city clerk and city attorney to live outside of North Port city limits. There are additional referendums involving the borrowing of money for state and federally declared disasters, along with bonds to help finance a solid waste transfer station and wastewater treatment facility. CLICK HERE:>>>Follow FOX 13 on YouTube The Source Information for this story was gathered by FOX 13's Kimberly Kuizon. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV Download FOX Local mobile app: Apple | Android Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines Download the SkyTower Radar app Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
North Port voters to decide five referendum questions on May 13
NORTH PORT – North Port residents will go to the polls May 13 to decide five referendum questions – four of which involve the city's ability to borrow money. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. May 13. For election day, any in–person voting must be done at the assigned polling location. Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections Ron Turner urged people to double check their polling place online at The Supervisor of Elections noted one polling place change: Precinct 541 will vote for this election at Colonial Baptist Church, 2400 Taylor Ranch Trail, Venice. The five questions on the ballot include two city charter changes and three questions seeking permission to finance new projects – the largest of which is a proposed new headquarters for North Port Police. An information webpage at includes the ballot language for all five referendum questions and more details. Statewide, all bonds backed by property taxes must be first approved voters but North Port is the only known municipality in Florida that does not have the ability to borrow funds for emergency response or for projects backed by other financial means. General Development Corp. created that provision 65 years ago, when the city was incorporated as North Port Charlotte in 1959. One of the charter amendment votes would allow the city of North Port to borrow funds to respond to state and federally declared disasters. Current restrictions prevented North Port from participating in some state or federal low-interest loan programs following Hurricane Ian. The other charter amendment question would allow the city clerk and city attorney to live outside of the city limits. The three other funding questions involve the city's ability to issue bonds for three different capital projects: the new police station, a new solid waste transfer station and water and sewer improvements. A 'yes' vote on question 3 would allow the city to sell up to $115 million in general obligation bonds to build a new 108,000 square-foot police station that would accommodate the city's needs through 2065, with a current projected price tag of $122.7 million. General obligation bonds are paid for out of property tax revenue. The current North Port property tax rate is 3.7667 mills. One mill is equal to $1 for every $1,000 of taxable property value. To finance the $115 million bond, an additional 0.618 mills would be assessed through the actual hit for individual taxpayers would be reduced as the city grows. Bonds to pay for the two other projects – a new solid waste transfer station and a new 30-inch pipeline from the wastewater treatment facility that would transport reclaimed water to a deep injection well for storage – would be financed through existing district fees and not property taxes. Early voting was held May 5-10, with 2,122 voters casting ballots. When combined with 6,004 mail-in ballots already received, that means 13.3% of North Port's 61,020 registered voters have weighed in on the five questions so far. This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: North Port voters will determine five ballot questions May 13
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
North Port mayor to offer State of the City address on March 12
NORTH PORT – North Port Mayor Phil Stokes will give a State of the City update at 6 p.m., Wednesday at Solis Hall, in a meeting that includes two guest speakers: Sarasota County Commissioner Ron Cutsinger and Sheriff Kurt Hoffman. Stokes, who represents District 5, which includes Wellen Park, will cover the latest developments impacting the city. Topics include expansion of healthcare in the city limits; new schools; upcoming city infrastructure projects; new businesses and job opportunities; and the May 13 special election, which includes five questions for city voters. The questions include two city charter changes and three seeking permission to finance new projects – the largest of which is a proposed new headquarters for North Port Police. Solis Hall is in Downtown Wellen Park at 19745 Wellen Park Blvd. The referenendum will also be discussed at two more town hall meetings: April 2 at the North Port Public Safety Building in Wellen Park and April 24 at Suncoast Technical College. Each is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. The deadline to register to vote in this special election is Monday, April 14, at the Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections office. Those wanting to vote by mail must also request a new vote-by-mail ballot by 5 p.m., May 1. Those ballots can be dropped off between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., May 5-10 at the Supervisor of Elections Office in Biscayne Plaza, 13640 Tamiami Trail, North Port. In-person early voting will be available from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., May 5-10, at the North Port Supervisor of Elections Office in Biscayne Plaza. For more information, visit This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: North Port State of the City presentation scheduled for March 12
