Sheriff’s Road Patrol Activity Report for Williamstown Township
January – May, 2009
|
|
Year to Date |
Weekly Average |
|
Criminal Complaints Reported/Taken in Township |
91 |
4.3 |
|
Blotter Calls Reported/Taken in the Township |
58 |
2.8 |
|
Traffic Accidents Reported/Taken in Township |
47 |
2.2 |
|
Citations Written in the Township |
95 |
4.5 |
|
Patrol Time Spent in the Township |
821.40 hours |
39.1 hours |
Some examples of the activities by the Road Patrol included larcenies from motor vehicles, juvenile runaways, domestic disputes, suicidal subjects, criminal sexual conduct complaint, motor vehicle theft, identity theft, credit card fraud, traffic crashes, arrest for Operating While Intoxicated & Driving While License Suspended, and our usual mailbox damage. There are many other reasons we call for police. They keep us safe.
The Sheriff provided these services for our safety during the last five months, but it does not represent the assistance they provide us in times of great emergency. We need only remember the invaluable assistance they provided after the tornado to understand how important they are for the safety of our residents. We must support the Sheriff’s office.
The county receives revenue from many sources. The 2009 Ingham County Budget as recommended by the Finance Committee on September 24, 2008 indicates that the County general fund revenues come from property tax levies, transfers from the state and federal government, departmental fees and fund balance. About fifty-nine percent of the revenue is from property taxes.
In Ingham County the 13 rural townships have about 12 percent of the population, but the property and business owners in these townships pay about 17 percent of the real and personal property taxes collected by the county’s 6 mils. Some other jurisdictions have a reverse situation. For example Lansing has about 41 percent of the population and the property and business owners pay about 30 percent of the County real and personal property taxes collected by the 6 mils.
In summary, this means on a per person basis, for every $2.00 of property taxes a person in the 13 Rural Townships paid to the county, $1.00 is paid to the county for a resident of the City of Lansing.
The statements that we do not contribute our fair share of the county revenue are not accurate. We contribute a higher proportion per person of the property taxes.
The General Fund
supports the Sheriff Department in four areas:
|
|
General Fund |
Net General
Fund |
|
|
Administration |
|
$ 1,924,705 |
$ 1,808,355 |
|
Adult Corrections Facilities (jail) |
|
$10,054,885 |
$ 7,845,910 |
|
Community Ed |
|
$ 17,680 |
$ 14,160 |
|
Law Enforcement/investigation |
|
$ 7,939,824 |
$ 4,521,787 |
|
Total |
$19,937,094 |
$14,190,212 |
|
Due to the 6 mils of property tax we pay to the county, we contribute 18% of the property taxes that go into paying the Net General Fund Expenses. Do the 13 rural townships have 18% of the jail population when we only have 12% of the population?
Law enforcement and investigations include typical “law enforcement” services including road patrol, investigative unit, transport and warrant unit, traffic unit, court security unit, and 55th District Court. Beyond duties of normal law enforcement officers, the units transport inmates, provide courtroom security, and numerous other tasks. Do the 13 rural townships use 18% of these services?
We pay 18% of the property taxes that go into the general fund and have only 12% of the population. We do not believe 18 % of the services are provided to residents of our township. We pay our fair share, but our public safety services are being singled out of elimination. This is not fair.
*Net General Fund Expenses are the General Fund Expenses reduced by the revenue received for these services.