Chesterfield Police: Major Layoffs Expected if Tax Proposal Fails
Township police will hold a town hall meeting about the tax proposal at 7 p.m. Oct. 18 at L'Anse Creuse Middle School East at 30300 Hickey Road in Chesterfield.
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Chesterfield Township police anticipate severe staff reductions if the proposed tax increase fails next month.
The department will host a town hall meeting about the Nov. 6 ballot proposal at 7 p.m. Oct. 18 at L'Anse Creuse Middle School East in the township.
According to a police presentation at the last town hall meeting, a voter rejection of the tax increase means:
- "Up to 40 percent of the department's patrol staff may be laid off in 2014 if funding is not approved. The patrol staff may be reduced from 43 to 26 officers. This reduction will result in increased emergency response times and elimination of some not in-progress/non-crime related services."
The police department already collects 5 mills that do not require renewal. Voters will be asked next month to approve another 2.5 mills that would be also be collected annually in perpetuity. The proposed increase will mean an average home owner will pay $200 a year, according to the department.
Police officials say an internal review of finances led them to the 2.5 mills request, saying it was the sole option that didn't end in a projected deficit within five years.
Police officials address questions about the indefinite state of the tax collection, if passed:
- "Due to Proposal A and the Headlee Amendment, the most that can be recovered yearly is the rate on inflation with a maximum pf 5 percent."
- "Five percent of $2 million is $100,000."
- "Resulting in a 20-year period just to recoup a $2-million-dollar loss."
- "The stability of the housing market is unknown at this point."
If approved, the 2.5 mills would mean:
- A full-service police department.
- No reductions of services.
- Services that have been cut or reduced can be restored, such as the K-9 unit, Traffic Bureau and lost patrol positions.
Police Chief Bruce Smith, township officials and auditors have pointed to a decrease in property values for the reason the police fund is heading toward depletion. The department is now covering revenue shortfalls from the force's savings account that will be diminished at the end of 2013.
Police say they need to maintain services in the community spanning 26-square miles with about 43,400 residents, and that includes highly traveled corridors like Gratiot, Interstate 94, several apartment complexes, commercial and industrial businesses, large shopping areas and more.
"At any given time, we have over 100 registered sex offenders that require monitoring," police noted in the presentation.
They also highlight high-profile crimes that have taken place in recent months, such as:
- The man accused of stabbing and robbing a woman in the McDonald's drive-thru.
- A suspected large-scale pot-growing operation in a Chesterfield home.
- An armed robbery at a dry cleaners on Gratiot.
- A cable man who allegedly stole thousands in jewelry from a township couple.
- Most recently, police tracked down a man accused of holding up a woman in the Kohl's parking lot. He was a registered sex offender living in the nearby Chesterfield Motor Inn.
See the complete ballot language in the November election guide for Chesterfield Township.
How do you plan on voting on the tax proposal? Why? Tell us in the comments section below.
In This article
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L'Anse Creuse Middle School East
30300 Hickey Rd, Chesterfield, MI -
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Chesterfield Township Police Department
46525 Continental Dr, Chesterfield, MI -
Chesterfield Motor Inn
50900 Gratiot Ave, Chesterfield, MI
kidcat24
3:51 pm on Friday, October 12, 2012
Welcome to you tax raising Snyder economy. When you shift 1.8 billion dollars from cities to the wealthy this is what you get.
Jason
3:37 pm on Saturday, October 13, 2012
Why no pay, pension, or benefit cuts?
Tracy - Chesterfield Twp
11:21 am on Sunday, October 14, 2012
@Jason - those items have already taken place.
Other cities have an average of 1.8 Police Officers per 1000 residents. And due to cuts that have already taken place, our township only has 1 per 1000.
We moved here to a nice neighborhood in 2000 because Chesterfield was a nice, safe quiet community. We now have a drug dealer next door, kids dealing drugs on the opposite corner and vehicle break-ins on our street twice a year!!
WE NEED MORE POLICE! $200 a year doesn't equate to anything compared to the safety of my family!
If this doesn't pass, I think the police won't have enough man power to respond to anything but car accidents. Seriously, how could they? We have 36 (-/+) square miles. How can they cover all that area if they cut officers?
Ugh!!!
Concerned
11:22 am on Sunday, October 14, 2012
CPD are already some of the lowest paid police officers around.
Chesterfield Resident
7:29 am on Monday, October 15, 2012
Enough with the scare tactics! Police Departments need to live within their budgets just like everyone else. I have not gotten a pay raise in years and there is no money left in my budget for additional taxes.
Maximus Max
7:29 am on Monday, October 15, 2012
They're doing just fine. Crime is not a problem. I don't see any rusty old patrol cars. No cops on the side of the road who have run out of gas. No problems to report, just scare tactics designed to make things easier for elected representatives who have to make things work, rather than simply raise revenue. It is the same problems so many Chesterfield residents are faced with every day, and that is "how do I make things work with what I have to work with". Make it work.
gramparsons73
7:29 am on Monday, October 15, 2012
Get ready for more tickets to raise that revenue.$200 is $200 less food on my table. Try to find a job these days with a pension.Sorry I don't feel bad at all. It's always scare tactics and intimidation. $200 here and there, it's always easy to say that.It does'nt sound like much. Add it all up, after everyone uses the same line. All your utilities, gas, fees, taxes, tuitions, food.When does it end.? As long as it's it's only $200 well i guess that makes it all right. Yeah I know we need cops.Crime is never going to stop as long as people have no money and that is what they are doing is taking and taking and taking.You wont miss only $200.
Doreen Hankins
11:17 am on Monday, October 15, 2012
Wake up Chesterfield! Our Police Department needs this millage increase. Do you have any idea what would happen if 40% of our police force was cut? Look at Detroit. There's a fine example of a city that can't afford to keep officers on the streets. Is that what you want?
Shell
8:51 pm on Monday, October 15, 2012
With the economic and housing decline of this past decade, there is a reality check in play. Keep in mind that to ensure the continuation of a safe community it will cost money. Inflation and a withering tax base surely affects the community, jobs, etc.. As a teacher I am aware of the shortcomings and deal with them, but I also want to know that my family is living in a safe environment. Economic declines leave people to think outside of the box as to how to acquire income when traditional opportunities have failed them. Many times this will mean illegal methods and an increase in crime. Even if population and growth have slowed, they have not declined, people are still here, citizens must remain safe. Review the headlines of the Patch front page and you will see that crimes still occur, and are becoming far higher profile. The reason why you know of these crimes is due to the police force and their proactive work ethic. You cannot cut corners when it comes to your well being, safety is top on that priority list, vote yes on the millage.