The Ypsilanti Courier
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Study reveals regional police costs
Several different scenarios come out in report
By Dave Wak, Special Writer
PUBLISHED: April 3, 2008
On Feb. 28 representatives from six townships including Ann Arbor Township, Augusta, Salem, Scio, Superior and York in addition to offcials from the city of Ypsilanti met to discuss the feasibility of starting a regional police force.
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The communities pitched in $6,800 for a study by the consulting firm Virchow and Krause to look at the costs and logistics of starting a new police department.
According to the firm's report, it would cost the communities around $7.2 million to start up a department, with costs fluctuating depending if all, or some of the municipalities joined.
The report also stated that the seven communities currently pay the county around $8.7 million for police services. If they started their own department they would pay $6.9 million and would save $1.8 million in its first year. However, that figure is only valid if all the communities participate
In ecent years, ere has been friction between Washtenaw County nd several townships over policing costs, which have risen six percent annually since 2003.
Presently the cost for one deputy is around $119,000 a year.
Several township officials have criticized Washtenaw County's handling of the issue with some, like Augusta Township Clerk Kathy Giszczak, saying that the county wants to get out of policing altogether.
"They (Washtenaw County) have an interest in getting out of the police business," Giszczak said.
Giszczak also said that the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners had discussed helping the communities with transition should they form a police department, including possibly some financial assistance, but hasn't heard anything more about it.
The study outlined several cost scenarios where only some of the seven communities would form a new police force.
In one scenario it would around cost $6.1 million to form a police force if Augusta, Salem and Scio Townships declined to join.
In another scenario, it would cost $4.6 million if only the six townships put together a police force without the city of Ypsilanti.
According to the report, costs are based on several factors. They include the community's population, their crime rate, and their taxable value.
Superior Township Supervisor William McFarlane said the report gave the participating communities a good overview of the costs involved in starting a new police force.
McFarlane said that no one on the township Board of Trustees has taken a public position on the issue yet. He added if the township were to seriously consider joining a new police department they would hold public hearings to get the residents input.
Dave Wak is an Ypsilanti resident and freelance writer for The Courier. He can be reached at dwak4@hotmail.com.
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