The Addison Township board last Monday night approved eliminating the shared sergeant position for the remainder of their 2006-07 fiscal year.
Treasurer Dan Alberty said once the township looked at the final billings from Oakland County and the estimated cost of the shared sergeant, it was obvious the township could no longer afford it.
According to the proposed shared sergeant contract for April 2006 to April 2007, Addison would have been required to pay 21.22 percent (or $26,436.08), while Oxford and Brandon would have each paid 39.39 percent (or $49,072.46).
The sergeant costs a total of $124,581 for the year.
Oxford Township Supervisor Bill Dunn said Brandon Township has already agreed to split the sergeant’s cost ?50/50? with Oxford.
The Oxford Township Board is expected to vote on the new 50/50 contract with Brandon at the Wednesday, April 26 meeting.
‘It’s already within the budget,? Dunn said. ‘We anticipated Addison was going to drop out, so we set aside more money this year.?
A shared sergeant has been used by the three townships for four years and works the 7 p.m.-3 a.m. shift providing supervision for the deputies.
He assists deputies without having to call the detective or the substation commander to minor incidents, therefore saving the community in overtime pay.
Sgt. Pete Burkett, commander for the Addison sheriff’s substation, said he was against getting rid of the shared sergeant because it’s been beneficial to the department, but understands the township’s financial strains. ‘It gives (us) extra eyes and ears on patrol,? he told this reporter.
Addison’s cancellation of the shared sergeant comes in light of budget concerns over the cost of the sheriff’s contract. Addison estimated they will be paying $868,000 for contract services with the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department for this fiscal year, which began April 1.
Alberty said normally, there is enough money left in the fund balance to pay the final bill for the sheriff’s contract of the previous year, but since the police millage expired in December, the police fund balance may not be enough to make a final payment for this fiscal year.
‘It’s a matter of whether we can use the new millage if it passes in August,? he said.
Township officials will ask voters to renew a 3.5-mill police tax at the August 8 election.
Until then, Alberty said the township may have to loan or subsidize the necessary funds, between $10,000 and $25,000, from their general fund for the sheriff’s contract. It would be paid back when the millage is collected next year.
The worse case scenario of the millage not passing is having to get rid of the Addison substation completely.
‘If we don’t get this millage passed (we’ll) literally be without police protection in this township,? Burkett said.
Currently, there are six deputies and one detective sergeant at the substation. If the millage passes, Burkett said staffing will remain ‘status quo.?
Alberty is hopeful the millage will pass so the department can expand its services and deputies in the long run.
‘I think the sheriff’s department does us a good job and we’re very satisfied with them,? he said. ‘We need more coverage.?
To help the township save money for police protection in general, Alberty said they are looking at combining deputies from each of the three townships and use no-fill positions instead of their current fill position.
A no-fill position means any vacations and sick days would be filled by deputies within the township instead of the county sending a deputy to fill in, which would save in overtime pay. ‘There’s a $19,000 a year difference between (having) a fill and a no-fill deputy,? Alberty said. ‘It’s tremendous.?
But he also states the no-fill positions won’t take place until Addison deputies are combined with Brandon and Oxford to form a larger pool of deputies to share.
According to Alberty, Brandon Township Supervisor Ron Lapp is ‘interested? in combining deputies, but Oxford Township Supervisor Bill Dunn is ‘willing to look at it, but is non-committal.?
‘It would be out of the community spirit, such as NOTA, that they would do it,? Alberty said. ‘There may not be a cost benefit to them.?