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Council directs mental-health millage funds toward community responder program with conditions
Summary
After debate, Ipsilante’s council amended a resolution to direct available mental-health millage funds (Fund 205), less previously committed allocations, toward development of a city community responder program and asked staff to coordinate with county partners and LEAP for implementation planning.
The Ipsilante City Council voted on May 5 to direct available resources from the city’s mental-health millage account (Fund 205) to support development of a community responder program, amending the original resolution to exclude funds already committed to the housing trust and a public restroom allocation.
Council members discussed whether a fixed dollar amount should be specified; several members favored using Fund 205’s accrued and projected balance (after the two earmarks) rather than placing a hard $1 million figure in the resolution. Staff reported the fund is projected to grow substantially—partly from intergovernmental revenue—and that after the council’s previously approved transfers (including a $100,000 housing-trust allocation and an anticipated $300,000 restroom set-aside) the fund would approach roughly $900,000 in the near term.
The amended resolution directs the city manager and finance director to allocate the available Fund 205 resources (excluding previously committed allocations) to program development and phased implementation of a community responder program focused on trauma-informed, noncoercive interventions, coordination with EMS and police triage protocols, and metrics such as reduced police involvement and improved care connections.
Council members also noted state public-safety funding rules and asked staff to confirm whether other allocations (such as newly announced state public-safety distributions) could be used to support non‑law-enforcement responders. Staff said the recently announced state distribution included requirements—approximately 75% for law enforcement and 25% for non-law-enforcement uses—so further clarification with state officials is needed.
The council passed the amended resolution by roll-call vote. Staff and council asked that LEAP (Law Enforcement Action Partnership) and other local partners continue planning with council input and that staff return with implementation details and metrics as part of the budget and follow-up sessions.
