Public Safety Center referendum pushed to November 2027
Officials say added year will allow more time to finalize plans
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Webster County voters will not be asked to consider a new Public Safety Center referendum this November after local officials agreed to push the proposed vote back one year.
In a joint statement released Thursday afternoon, the Webster County Public Safety Authority, Webster County and City of Fort Dodge announced that they are now working toward a November 2027 referendum. The added time will allow them to more fully develop the project before putting it before voters.
The three entities had been working toward a Nov. 3 vote.
Under Iowa law, the bond referendum can only be held in November, which means missing this year's ballot pushes the next opportunity to November 2027.
According to the joint statement, the 2026 timeline had been considered tight from the beginning, requiring decisions about the size and design of the facility, construction and operating costs, financing, long-term operations and public engagement to be completed on an accelerated schedule.
As planning progressed, officials said it became clear that the remaining work could not be completed at the level they believed was necessary without rushing some of those decisions.
"We know waiting another year is frustrating, especially for the team members who work in the LEC every day," said Webster County Supervisor Niki Conrad. "But this project has to work for the people who will use it, the taxpayers who will pay for it, and the community it will serve for decades. Taking more time now gives us a better chance to get those decisions right."
The additional year is expected to be used to refine the facility plan, confirm construction and operating costs, review financing options, address long-term operational needs and provide the public with additional opportunities to learn about the proposal while also asking questions.
Officials stressed Thursday that the decision does not mean the project is starting over.
Hundreds of hours of meetings and planning have already involved county and city officials, members of the three-member Public Safety Authority board, law enforcement leadership, project advisers and others. Officials said that work will serve as the foundation for the next phase of planning.
In the statement, officials said the need for a new facility also has not changed.
The current Webster County Law Enforcement Center continues to create operational challenges for law enforcement, corrections, dispatch and other public safety personnel, they reported. Webster County also continues to house inmates in facilities outside the county because of limited local jail capacity. Those costs also continue to grow.
In the joint statement, officials acknowledged that waiting another year is not the preferred outcome, but said moving forward simply to meet a ballot deadline would not be in the best interest of taxpayers.
"This is a significant investment of public dollars," the statement said.
Before asking voters to approve that investment, the Public Safety Authority, county and city said they want greater certainty surrounding the facility plan, construction and operating costs, financing strategy and the project’s long-term financial impact.
The current effort follows an unsuccessful referendum in November 2023. That proposal was focused solely on county services and called for construction of a new Webster County Jail and Sheriff's Office.The measure received 54.86 percent support from Webster County voters, but fell short of the 60 percent supermajority required for passage.
The current planning process is broader than the previous, and includes participation from both Webster County and the City of Fort Dodge through the Public Safety Authority, along with law enforcement leadership and project advisers.
Officials intend to spend the coming year continuing to develop the proposal before returning to voters.
In the meantime, Webster County and the city will continue to evaluate options for housing inmates, maintaining public safety operations and addressing challenges associated with the existing Law Enforcement Center.
Public Safety Center Key Dates
November 2023 -- Previous public safety proposal considered by Webster County voters
November 2026 -- Original target for the current Public Safety Center referendum
November 2027 -- New target for the Public Safety Center referendum