As an emergency generator growled and spewed black smoke in the background, Mayor Ralph Becker, flanked by cops, firefighters and their chiefs, stood behind Salt Lake City's crumbling police headquarters Monday to call for its replacement.

"We do not take lightly the issue of taxpayer dollars and our community's fiscal situation," Becker said. But "it is really an obligation and a responsibility that I feel just has to be done."

Monday's show of strength behind the public-safety complex was designed to rally support for a $125 million bond issue that -- if voters approve it Nov. 3 -- would fund a five-story police and fire headquarters along with a three-story emergency-operations center. The complex would be built near the Main Library, on the east side of 300 East between 400 South and 500 South. That site was selected after substantial public pushback forced the mayor to abandon his "preferred" site on Library Square.

Becker, who says the upgrade is more than a decade overdue, insists the "horrible" 50-year-old headquarters at 315 E. 200 South is "a waste of taxpayers' dollars" because of maintenance and utilities costs. The building isn't expected to survive an earthquake or bombing, and the current site could not accommodate the planned buildings. Last year, the Homeland Security Department designated Utah's capital as one of the nation's 62 cities at highest risk for a natural or man-made disaster.

The City Council is unanimous in support of a bond issue to fund a new police and fire headquarters, as are Police Chief Chris Burbank and Fire Chief Tom Shannon. City leaders hope this unanimity will be the difference compared to 2007, when then-Mayor Rocky Anderson's opposition to a more convoluted $192 million bond helped seal its defeat by voters.

"It's reasonable. It's been pared down. There's more specificity," said former Councilwoman Deeda Seed, a key critic of the shelved Library Square location. "And it's not encroaching on the green space."

Councilman Luke Garrott agreed with Seed that residents are willing to tax themselves for quality-of-life upgrades. "Just look at The Leonardo and the soccer complex," Garrott said. "This is not an amenity. It's a fundamental public service."

Known as Proposition 1, the bond would cost $75 more a year for the owner of a $260,000 home. It would mean $522 more on a $1 million commercial property.

The bond also competes with a state-mandated school-equalization tax that will cost city residents roughly $80 more a year in property taxes. In addition, residents will see a $22 annual hit to cover the expense of two new branch libraries and The Leonardo science museum across from City Hall.

"Most individuals are disposed to vote no on tax increases as a general rule," said Kelly Patterson, director of the Center for the Study of Elections and Democracy at Brigham Young University. Patterson says the bond's fate will depend on turnout and whether a "countervailing" campaign develops. "If there's not, it has a pretty good chance of passing."

An Exoro Group poll, taken in July, showed 58 percent of city residents favor Prop 1. In 2007 -- before the recession hit -- the public-safety bond lost by just a few hundred votes.

"The value it will create for property owners is greater than the cost of the taxes," maintained Bruce Bingham, a downtown developer who runs Hamilton Partners.

The city also is talking with Salt Lake County about possibly partnering to include prosecutors with the District Attorney's Office in the new complex, which would take three to four years to complete.

This summer, a residents' revolt in the Jordan School District forced school officials to slash a proposed tax increase in half. Asked if he fears so-called ballot fatigue could doom the public-safety bond in November, Becker shrugged. "I guess we'll just have to face a post-November election if that occurs," he said. "We'll have to make decisions if the voters are not supportive."

Playing offense, the city has paid Exoro $75,000 -- and is raising more from business owners -- for a public-education campaign that will include mailers, neighborhood meetings and a presence at events such as the popular Downtown Farmers' Market.

"We might say today, 'Now's not the time,' " Council Chairman Carlton Christensen said. "But, if there's a disaster ... people will say, 'Why did you wait?' "

As soon as the news conference ended, the generator grunted another black plume.

djensen@sltrib.com