Dallas city leaders gathered Thursday at the University of North Texas at Dallas to break ground on a new Dallas Police Law Enforcement Training Center. The 20‑acre, state‑of‑the‑art campus will replace the temporary academy that has operated in a southern‑Dallas industrial strip since 1990.

Funding push tied to upcoming bond

During the ceremony, former councilman Tennell Atkins reminded residents that the project’s final cost will depend on voter approval of a $443 million public‑safety bond slated for the November ballot. “This November, Dallas voters will decide on a public safety bond that gives our city the opportunity to invest once more in the people and resources Dallas needs to be safe,” Atkins said.

City officials acknowledge that additional private and public funds will be required to fully finance the training center. Dallas Police Association President Sean Pease expressed concern over the bond language, stating, “I cannot support asking voters to approve something if two years down the road it never gets funded.” Councilwoman Cara Mendelsohn warned the city could treat the money like a blank check without clear safeguards.

What’s next for the project?

If voters approve the bond, the city will move forward with construction and staffing plans for the new academy. Should the measure be rejected, council members say they will draft a more focused bond package centered solely on the training facility and present it to voters in a May election.

The groundbreaking marks the fifth time Dallas has asked residents to fund a police academy. The city manager has pledged to keep the project on schedule and within budget, but the final financing picture remains uncertain.

Original reporting: Dallas – Ft. Worth Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.