Ypsilanti Township looking to cut 10 deputy positions
Ypsilanti Township officials are asking Washtenaw County to open up the township's police services contract and allow for the layoff of 10 deputies by next month.
In the aftermath of a failed police millage increase, Township Supervisor Brenda Stumbo sent a letter today to Sheriff Jerry Clayton and County Administrator Bob Guenzel requesting that the county let the township drop its number of contract deputies from 38 to 28 - a 26 percent decrease.
"Ypsilanti Township is hopeful we will be able to restore deputy positions sometime in the future," Stumbo wrote. "In the meantime, we are committed to working together to deliver the highest quality police protection available for our community. Thank you for your leadership to help guide us through this difficult time."
Stumbo requested the county agree to adjust the scope of services in its contract by Jan. 1.
Guenzel relayed news of the request to county commissioners tonight at a working session of the board. He said the contract between the county and the township allows for a six-month opt-out clause, and the county is not obligated to open up the contract any earlier.
Guenzel said he has county staff looking into labor relations and legal issues surrounding the request, as well as financial implications for the county. He plans to bring a recommendation to the county board Dec. 2.
County board Chairman Rolland Sizemore Jr., D-5th District, said it's his preference the county not engage in discussions with a township that is suing the county.
Ypsilanti Township is one of three townships - including Salem and Augusta - that sued the county about three years ago when it changed police service contracts, contesting the county's ability to increase the contract price of a deputy. The suit is still pending before the Michigan Supreme Court.
Some county officials said they thought 38 deputies already isn't enough police presence in Ypsilanti Township.
Stumbo said the Township Board of Trustees approved a 2010 fiscal year budget earlier this week that includes support for 28 deputies, based on available tax revenue generated by the current police millage of 3.5 mills.
Earlier this month, Ypsilanti Township voters defeated a ballot measure by just 169 votes to raise an additional 2 mills for police protection. If passed, the increase would have cost the owner of a home with a taxable value of $100,000 an additional $200 annually until 2013.
Nearly 70 percent of voters approved a millage renewal for police protection in May, which maintained the township’s police budget at about $5.4 million.
In the days after the election, Ypsilanti Township officials said the impact of a failed millage wouldn’t be immediately known, but residents could expect to see slower response times to certain calls and less community-oriented policing.
"As you know, discussions between our respective staff regarding this necessary reduction in the scope of services has been ongoing for the past two weeks since the election," Stumbo wrote today. "We have received a draft proposal of an operational deployment plan under a reduced staffing model of 28 deputies. Discussions will continue over the next few weeks to finalize a deployment plan. We continue to look for opportunities to minimize the impact of the staff reduction on our residents and the county."
Ryan J. Stanton covers government for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529.
Comments
reddog801
Sat, Nov 21, 2009 : 11:43 a.m.
Here is the problem with this story. Every story that I have seen on this since the mil failed is that "residents could expect to see slower response times to certain calls and less community-oriented policing" Washtenaw County Sheriff does not provide Community Oriented Policing. The sheriff department simply is contracted by townships to provide law enforcement to the communities. Never once have I seen a deputy on a bicycle. Never once have I seen them on the motorcycles actively patrolling the community. Community policing is just that, being involved with the community. At a neighborhood watch meeting recently it was told to us that if we live in a "decent" neighborhood that the chances of us seeing a deputy was slim to known. How disappointing. Just the mere presence of a patrol car is enough to deter crime. My neighborhood is full of crime even though the sheriff's department does not want to admit it. Every time it's brought up they go to the statistics. Statistics can are are wrong. We had a theft in our area where the kid was just about caught. Both of my neighbors called and they were told that they were not going to come out. The neighbor that had property stolen from him upon calling back was told by the dispatcher that they were not going to come out and that she would just log it. My neighbor agreed to that however the dispatcher never logged it. We need our own police department. If you go to Ypsilanti City's website --->http://cityofypsilanti.com/bd_city-council/regional_police_study, you will be able to read the study that was done. It is feasible we just have to have folks that care about our township to go ahead with it. We depend on the sheriff's department for too much and they cannot provide the services because they want to charge too much. Currently OVER $150,000 per deputy. Times that by 28 and that is TOO MUCH.
girlhunter
Sat, Nov 21, 2009 : 9:13 a.m.
Wait... I find it interesting that the township is cutting the police force due to budget cuts, but they are going after residents for making thier own haunted house. For real... where are the townships priorties??? Just think.. if they would have spent the money on the police force and not paying thier lawyer to draw up papers and take Mr. tacket to court.. maybe they could spare someones job.. and a communities sence of security!..juat a thought...
not a billy
Fri, Nov 20, 2009 : 8:55 p.m.
Here's a thought - Give the county its six month notice for termination of the contract immediately, get the township elected politicians out of the way and let some intelligent people negotiate a new contract with the City of Ypsilanti. If the Township Board of Trustees would have looked forward several years ago and not been so anti-city, they would have saved the $2 million on a lawsuit against the county and had an excellent police force free of county domination. Everybody would have been a lot farther ahead (except Doug Winters!). Extend the cooperation/consolidation to the Fire Departments and have two premium agencies under a Public Safety Authority. Just don't let the YCUA staff manage it (they have too many close family ties to the good ole girls & boys of the township). If you don't think it would work, call some of the now-retired township & city fire and police bosses from the 90's who had some common sense that nobody would listen to.
uawisok
Fri, Nov 20, 2009 : 4:40 p.m.
The teabaggers and libertarians have spoken.....no "big" goverment and no more taxes!! My guess is they will squell the loudest when the services they demand are lacking if even avalible. The race to the bottom continues....
tiredofmess
Fri, Nov 20, 2009 : 2:29 p.m.
As tough as things are throughout the entire county maybe the department will shift manpower to make sure the citizens are protected,I don't think anyone wants to see the county or officers in fear for their safety because of lack of staffing.
YpsiLivin
Fri, Nov 20, 2009 : 12:38 p.m.
County board Chairman Rolland Sizemore Jr., D-5th District, said it's his preference the county not engage in discussions with a township that is suing the county. Hmm. That's really productive, especially coming from the commissioner who represents Ypsilanti Township. Perhaps Mr. Sizemore should take a lesson from Wes Prater, who was sent packing for a term after failing to represent the position of the people who elected him to the County Commission in the first place.
foolonthehill
Fri, Nov 20, 2009 : 12:12 p.m.
Maybe Ypsi township should look into contracting from any other department, like maybe ypsi city, maybe they would both benefit.
John Galt
Fri, Nov 20, 2009 : 11:44 a.m.
Other than police and fire, they could shut the rest of the township government down first. Cover the basics and let the rest go.
axilla
Fri, Nov 20, 2009 : 11:41 a.m.
Maybe it's time for the township to grow up, become a real city, and provide the basic services that its current nanny, Washtenaw county, is stuck with.
YpsiLivin
Fri, Nov 20, 2009 : 10:09 a.m.
JT, The 38 deputies that are currently assigned to YT are assigned to work full-time in the township. They would leave the township to cover an emergency elsewhere, but the amount of time these deputies spend elsewhere is minimal. stunhsif - "opening up the contract" isn't an option at this point. The entire lawsuit by Ypsilanti Township, Augusta and Salem was based on the County's position that it has the authority to open the contract unilaterally and RAISE the cost of a deputy as it sees fit. I'd be interested in finding out how much of the $144K-per-deputy figure that the county is throwing around goes to cover general administration costs in the sheriff's department.
dading dont delete me bro
Fri, Nov 20, 2009 : 9:54 a.m.
time to load up is right on. i've got mine on my hip legally too. why burden the people that are actually working more than they are already? things are tight already in my checkbook. CAN'T get much tighter. why are they cutting 10 jobs? the RENEWAL passed in may, the INCREASE did not. let's ride this wonderful change out together.
scooter dog
Fri, Nov 20, 2009 : 9:27 a.m.
time to stock up at the local gun store.
JT
Fri, Nov 20, 2009 : 9:26 a.m.
I'd like to know why it costs $144k annually per deputy. I can't imagine the salary and benefits per deputy being more than $60k-$70k. Throw in the cost for vehicle maintenance and overhead at HQ and I still don't see how it is $144k. Further, the deputies are not patrolling the township full-time, correct? So the Twp shouldn't bear 100% of the cost of a deputy. I hope the county isn't making a profit on the deal. Does anyone have the details behind the $144k?
stunhsif
Fri, Nov 20, 2009 : 8:33 a.m.
Rather than cut 10 deputy positions why don't they in the interest of PUBLIC safety open up the union contracts for these officers who are PUBLIC employees. As another emailer here noted, many of us in the private sector have taken paycuts and contribute a large portion of our income to paying for our own healthcare. If the officers union were to agree to a 10% paycut and reductions in pension's and healthcare they would perhaps have to only lay off half that many officers, perhaps even less. Whose interests do the police officers have in mind? Certainly not the public's!
a2huron
Fri, Nov 20, 2009 : 8:27 a.m.
The residents have spoken. Downsize the service and don't raise taxes. 28 deputies is still a lot to service a community. Now, the county better not dare try to subsidize these 10 positions from the overall tax pool in order to keep them on board - in any fashion - w/o full payment. If they do, then it shows that Ypsilanti Township truly controls the county and can get anything it wants, even if it doesn't have to pay for it. By the way, where is the $2 million bill for that lawsuit? If there never was a lawsuit, $2 mil sure would have paid for 10 deputies over several years, now wouldn't it?
dading dont delete me bro
Fri, Nov 20, 2009 : 8:26 a.m.
this is ridiculous. how about cutting payrolls? i took a 20% cut for a couple months, now it's only 10%, all involuntary. it's better than standing in a soup line.
youngdz79
Fri, Nov 20, 2009 : 12:02 a.m.
Every body wants to blame the "corrupt" Township officials, well here is a tidbit you ALL chose to ignore we voted in these people and now you complain about them. I guess people would rather blame the few for the masses mistakes. As for me I am going to just sit on my front porch and watch everybody descend into anarchy the first time the police are called and guess what, there are no available officers. Should be interesting to see what happens
Mikey2u
Thu, Nov 19, 2009 : 10:01 p.m.
The best way to reduce crime in the Township is to reduce the number of Ypsilanti Township officials.