In a town hall Q&A session on May 9, Rexburg Police Chief Josh Rhodes and Rexburg Chief Finance Officer Matt Nielson answered questions from the public concerning the proposed Police Station Bond that will be voted on next week.

Major concerns of those present included the bond’s effect on property taxes, the purchasing of the land and the safety of the surrounding neighborhoods of the proposed location.

Nielson confirmed that the bond would lead to an increase in property taxes, though they would not be due immediately.“If the bond is to pass, we wouldn't put it onto property taxes until 2028,” Nielson said. “And what that means is when you get your notice in November 2028, the first half would be due in December 2028, the second half, or in full, by June 2029.”

Nielson also confirmed that this may affect the rental costs for students and other Rexburg residents, as landlords often pass property taxes onto their tenants through increased rent.

For those concerned about how the bond will affect their property taxes, the city has provided a property tax calculator on its website.

Another major concern with the bond is the land on which they are planning to build the station, which has already been purchased by the city.

The funds for this purchase were not connected with the bond, assured Nielson. The 4.9-acre property on Pioneer Road was purchased using approved city savings last November for $1.3 million, following a city council decision voting in favor of the purchase in June 2025.

According to Nielson, the city agreed when purchasing the property that the land would only be used for building a police station. It cannot be used for any other purpose. If the funds are not approved and the station is not built, the city has a “first right to purchase back” agreement with the previous owner. This means they would be the first buyer considered before all others if the property were sold.

Later in the meeting, citizens expressed concern for the safety of the surrounding neighborhoods. Specifically, with released and uncharged detainees possibly walking through the streets when leaving the station.

"Our neighborhood is where we walk," one concerned citizen said. "And we see young parents walk our neighborhoods with their kids. It brings a youth to our neighborhood that we don't want to lose." This citizen went on to express a worry that the new police station and the individuals entering it would disrupt that valued neighborhood atmosphere.

Rhodes and Nielson acknowledged these concerns. They assured those present that they would consult with Core Consulting Group to acquire information and studies before the upcoming vote.

For those who could not attend the Q&A, the city has provided a contact form where questions can be submitted. Answers will be received through email.

The What and Why of the Rexburg Police Station Bond

The Rexburg Police Department has been stationed at its current location on Main Street since the late 1990s. Rexburg's population, which was just shy of 18 thousand residents at the turn of the century, was estimated to be over 40 thousand in 2025.

But with the Madison Memorial Hospital, the closest hospital on the west side of Yellowstone, and BYU-Idaho, "in a given day, we probably have 60 thousand in town," estimated Chief Rhodes. "And as the population increases, it increases our workload."

Throughout the years, RPD has grown its force to accommodate the increased demand for its services. Inadequacies of the current police station pointed out by the department in their project proposal include too little space to accommodate its growing police force, the inability to store evidence effectively, an increased flood risk destroying evidence, a lack of security and minimal parking.

Though the city had set aside several million for the project, it became clear to officials that the station could not be built without additional funding. In 2025, the City of Rexburg proposed a bond for $16,750,000 to be repaid over 15 years. With the accrual of interest, the total bond would have cost Rexburg and its residents $22,589,638, according to a statement published on the city's Facebook page. The bond was voted on in November 2025, with 2,305 Rexburg residents voting in the election. It needed a majority of 66.67% of the voters to vote yes to pass. It lost the vote by just 4%.

In an effort to understand the lack of support from the public, the City of Rexburg conducted an online survey in January 2026, encouraging residents to share their honest opinions. The main concern with the bond found in the survey was its impact on property taxes. The city changed its approach and proposal to align with public feedback.

The current proposed bond is for $14,995,000 to be repaid over 15 years. With interest, the total cost of the bond would be $19,304,500. Designers achieved $3 million in savings by removing unfinished interior space from the original design, which had been included to allow the expansion of certain buildings in the future.

In addition to the revised design and cost, the city released the property tax calculator and an informational webpage dedicated to the bond to invite public transparency.

The revised proposal will be voted on May 19.