It appears Oxford Township voters will be asked to approve a police millage on the November ballot.
Exactly how many mills will be requested depends on the future staffing levels required by the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department to patrol the township and future increases in police contract rates.
Currently, unincorporated township residents ? those living outside the village ? pay 2.9243 mills for contracted police services from the sheriff’s department. That millage, originally renewed at 3.0487 mills by voters in November 2002, is set to expire with the December 2006 tax bill.
To help answer some questions about future policing needs and costs, Undersheriff Mike McCabe and Lt. Tom Parker, Oxford’s substation commander, made a presentation to the township board last week
Based on the township’s most current population estimate of 15,757 (as of May 1) and the substation’s current staff of 15 1/2 officers, Parker told officials the township meets the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s recommended standard of one officer per 1,000 residents.
‘We’re right on the money,? the lieutenant said.
As for future needs, Parker said, if the township experienced the same rate of population increase over the next six years that it did from 2000 to 2006 (approximately 3,000 residents), ‘that would call for approximately another three deputies.?
However, given Michigan’s poor economy and high unemployment rate, the lieutenant said, ‘I don’t particularly see that same rate of increase in the next six years.?
‘But I do believe it will go up approximately 1,000 to 2,000 people and so consequently I would recomend one to two more officers in six years,? Parker said. ‘If things turn around, perhaps things will be different, but right now my best guestimate would be one to two officers in the next five-year cycle.?
With regard to the contract rates which the township and other communities pay the sheriff’s department for police services, McCabe, who’s an Oxford Township resident, told officials, ‘Your rates are set for the next 2 1/2 years.?
‘You’re all set there,? the undersheriff said. ‘You don’t have to worry about that. Those rates are not going to change. They’re locked in.?
Around June 2008, McCabe said the department will begin the process of setting the new contract rates for the next five-year cycle with the goal of getting them approved by the Oakland County Board of Commissioners by the end of the year, so they can be implemented in 2009.
McCabe assured officials that all the contract communities will be contacted in order to garner their input before the new rates are set and adopted.
As for how much the contract rates could eventually increase, the undersheriff said given that ‘health care costs have gone through the roof,? he ‘can’t tell right now what it’s going to be.?
Based on inflation and previous years, McCabe said, ‘Generally, the rates have been going up about 3 percent a year.?
In light of all this information, Trustee Sue Bellairs asked, ‘Is the board interested in raising (the millage) or just a renewal for what we have right now??
‘Times are not really good right now and people are more prone to vote in renewals than they are increases,? she reminded her fellow officials.
‘I think we have to wait until we get the numbers,? replied Supervisor Bill Dunn.