“The city of Allegan is facing budget challenges.”
Allegan city manager Joel Dye says eliminating their nine-member police department would save hundreds of thousands of dollars a year.
“And reinvest those dollars in our community to tackle much needed infrastructure projects.”
Dye says sheriff’s departments provide satisfactory law enforcement in several west Michigan communities.
“Hudsonville, Spring Lake, Coopersville, Georgetown Township, Fennville and Saugatuck have been contracting for public safety services with Ottawa and Allegan counties with success.”
But Allegan police chief Jay Gibson wonders if the savings projections are accurate and says it’s hard to put a price on the services city police provide.
“On a relationship level a community level our service that we provide how do I quantify that in a number?”
The city manager says a voter approved public safety millage could pay for the police department but:
“I don't believe the residents will approve adding to the current millage rate. The city of Allegan is already one of the highest taxed municipalities in the county.”
An exploratory committee is evaluating the pros and cons of contracting with the Sheriff’s Department for police services.
“If we do this and we terminate our police department there's no going back.”
