CHARLOTTE, N.C. — City leaders are discussing whether they should spend another $20 million for a new Joint Communications Center in northeast Charlotte.
[Charlotte leaders to discuss $70 million communications center]
The price tag for the center three years ago was $70 million, then it was bumped up to $86 million.
Charlotte's budget committee said it will cost now $106 million.
The project will bring police, fire and 311 dispatchers under one roof and it would serve as an emergency operations center.
The main goal of the project is to revamp the northeast corridor of Charlotte.
The Charlotte Fire Department Headquarters is already in that location and soon the Charlotte Area Transit System Blue Line Extension will open nearby.
Many residents said the area needs it but some said they are not sure it’s worth it to spend another $20 million on the center.
"I think there's a lot of areas where the money can go to in the city of Charlotte," Charlotte resident Shawn Smith said.
The building requires generators, storage for fuel and water and sleeping quarters.
In addition, the building has to withstand natural hazards and chemical, biological, and radiological attacks.
City leaders like newly-elected Councilman Tariq Bokar, have a lot questions about it.
"The Joint Communications Center was one, specifically, that I was looking at very closely," Bokhari said.
He said cost overruns could be because of new safety requirements, an increase in cost for materials and moving the project site. At this point, the Charlotte City Council could rethink the plan altogether.
"We can make a shift in direction should we need to," Bokhari said.
The City Council sent the project back to the city manager for review. Council members said they want to look at options for the project before debating whether to move forward or scrap it.
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