June 25, 2009

Police chiefs, others ask state to protect public safety

Michigan Municipal League: Proposed cuts in revenue sharing endanger communities

Scott Davis
sedavis@lsj.com

Proposed state revenue sharing cuts could double the thousands of police officers and firefighters laid off in Michigan since 2001, municipal leaders warned.

Flanked by police chiefs and fire chiefs, officials of the Michigan Municipal League called on state lawmakers Wednesday to refrain from $162 million in state revenue sharing cuts proposed in the 2009-10 budget year beginning Oct. 1 - a reduction of about 12 percent from the current fiscal year.

"Public safety has to be the No. 1 obligation of government," said Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton, adding the Flint Police Department has lost 150 officers in recent years. "Government must be fiscally responsible, but it must not sacrifice public safety."

Those proposed cuts come on the heels of nearly $3 billion in state revenue sharing cuts since 2001, league officials say. Since that time, they say, more than 2,400 police officers and 1,800 firefighters throughout the state have lost their jobs.

Cities and villages rely on state revenue sharing to supplement their property tax revenue and provide general fund services, such as public safety, parks and human services.

On June 16, the Michigan Senate voted to slash state revenue sharing by $164 million.

In her 2009-10 budget proposal, Gov. Jennifer Granholm recommended reducing that funding by $162 million.

The full House has not yet taken action.

If Granholm's cuts are approved, that would reduce revenue sharing by an estimated $2.2 million for Lansing, $733,051 for East Lansing and $94,200 for St. Johns, according to the House Fiscal Agency.

The proposed cuts are on top of $41 million that lawmakers slashed from revenue sharing in May in an emergency budget-cutting measure for the current fiscal year.

League President Robin Beltramini blasted state officials for proposing to use roughly $1 billion in stimulus funding to shore up funding in state programs next budget year.

She argued that federal officials intended the stimulus to shore up municipal programs as well.

Lansing Fire Chief Tom Cochran said revenue cuts would further tighten funding for his department, which now has 15 unfilled vacancies and approximately 210 staff members.

"It could hamper our ability to fight fire like we do right now," Cochran said. "Our calls continue to increase."

Many law enforcement officials expect their calls to increase significantly in coming months as unemployment and home foreclosures rise in the state, and prisons release inmates early in a budget-cutting measure.

"Who wants to live in a community that cannot provide for public safety?" said Howell Police Chief George Basar, who expects to lose one of his 19 sworn officers next year due to proposed revenue sharing cuts.

"What kind of Michigan are we building for our future?"