Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety Millage topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Sheriff and staff warn loss of road patrol, prosecutors and animal control if public safety millage fails
Summary
At the budget workshop Sheriff Reich and deputies urged passage of the May public safety millage, saying failure would force cuts to non‑mandated services including road patrol and could be difficult to rebuild; the sheriff said jail and court security are mandated.
Sheriff Reich told the Ways & Means Committee the department could maintain mandated functions — notably the jail and court security — but that loss of the proposed public safety millage would force removal of non‑mandated road patrol and other services.
"To run the jail," the sheriff said when asked which services are statutory mandates, adding that restoring a road patrol after deep cuts would be "a miracle" because neighboring agencies pay higher wages and recruiting would be difficult. Captain Chris Coleman praised deputies in public comment, saying "We have some of the best people in the state of Michigan wearing that uniform, and I'll go to bat for them every day of the week."
Sheriff Reich and other staff also responded to public social‑media claims about the department's recent purchase of Sig Sauer pistols. The sheriff said the agency vetted the choice and that peer agencies use the same handguns; the HR director added the county arranged vendor briefings and that, to her knowledge, no grievances were filed over the purchase.
Commissioners repeatedly returned to the millage timeline: the board has an upcoming May 6 public safety levy question and staff said preliminary decisions about cuts should be ready by May 30 so departments and employees can be notified and legal issues reviewed.
