Talk with almost any government official, especially local government officials, and he or she will likely acknowledge that public safety is the No. 1 concern of any government.

When it comes to a city’s budget or a county’s budget, public safety is one of its greatest annual expenses. Those expenses include personnel costs (police officers, firefighters and EMS providers) and equipment costs (police cars, fire engines and ambulances). Overall, Washington has the personnel and equipment it needs to provide more-than-adequate police, fire and EMS coverage to its residents.

But when it comes to facilities housing those services, those facilities could be better. City officials, including the City Council, realize that. They also realize building new public-safety facilities will be expensive.

That said, it’s time for the city to build a new police station. The existing station on West Third Street is cramped, outdated and subject to flooding after heavy rains. It’s been that way for at least 15 years. During the City Council’s meeting last week, Stacy Drakeford, the city’s Police and Fire Services director, made it clear he considers the police station, built in the 1970s, outdated and inadequate.

In recent years, several proposed sites for a new police station were identified. Designs for a new police station were developed. Some sites were rejected because residents did not like them. Four years ago, the City Council determined the city could not afford to build a new police station at that time.

At that time, Matt Rauschenbach, the city’s chief financial officer, said delaying the project would add to its cost. It looks like the longer the city waits, the costlier the project grows.

And there’s been talk about building a facility that would house a new police station and new fire station on the east side of the city. The existing fire station on the east side of the city is 50 years old and showing signs of wear and tear. A combined facility deserves consideration, at the very least.

When it comes to building a new police station, there will come a time when, because of public-safety reasons, the city cannot afford to wait. If that time is not already here, it’s just around the corner.

It’s time for city officials to find an equitable solution to this situation. It’s their duty.