Ypsilanti Mayor Paul Schreiber: City must make $3.9 million in cuts
During the Ypsilanti City Council’s final special budget meeting, Mayor Paul Schreiber said the city needs to act fast and make a total of $3.9 million in cuts and expenditures per year in order to stabilize the city’s budget and not have a deficit year to year.
Paul Schreiber
File photo
“We have a large deficit in front of us and what I see is if we keep current revenues and current expenditures, our deficit is going to be $4 million in fiscal year 2016, $4.6 million in 2017 and $1.5 million just for next year,” Schreiber said.
“City staff is presenting a proposal that would shoulder off $1.2 million of that with the combination of not transferring money to the motor pool from the general fund and also the reduction in the fire department’s seven positions.”
Schreiber said a possible revenue generator might be a solid waste use fee or some sort of fee associated with the solid waste fund. The mayor said this might stave off the $330,000 transfer fee from the general fund to the solid waste fund.
Schreiber also brought up the idea of asking voters for a water street bond in November despite the fact residents voted against the Water Street debt retirement millage during the May 8 election.
“That would not cost the city any money to do that,” he said. “It would be about $1.2 million in revenue and we could cut back on the expenditure cuts. I think that would help quite a bit. I just think council has to decide if we want to ask for a revenue increase.”
Several councilmembers opposed the idea of asking for the bond.
“What are you smoking?” said council member Peter Murdock in response to Schreiber’s suggestion. “I haven’t seen anyone who was opposed to the Water Street millage last time that would be willing to support it now. I think that’s dead. In my perspective that’s not very realistic, it just kicks the can down the road.”
Even though Murdock didn’t like the idea of the bond, he acknowledged that without revenue prospects, the city will likely face more troubling times.
“Without any new revenue, the cliff is just going to get bigger and deeper and we’re going to go over it,” he said.
The mayor said he was open to further suggestions but he didn’t have any other ideas as to how to increase revenue.
“We have to take a very macro feel to it and decide what revenue increases we’re going to go for,” Schreiber said. “If we don’t do anything, we will have to make cuts. If we don’t do it, someone else is going to do it for us.”
Council member Michael Bodary said it’s too fresh in voters minds and there’s no sudden way to “wake them up” in order to secure necessary votes.
“The city’s going to go down the drain in two years,” Bodary said. “We have to make the cuts that we know of now. We have to cut seven firefighters and not fill any open positions. Perhaps in 2014 after these cuts have been made and they realize what it costs them in services, they’ll soften up.”
Council member Daniel Vogt said voters took an “enormous gamble” with the city’s future.
“I think we have to follow their choice,” he said. “ I hate to even say this and I find myself forcing the words out of my mouth, but I think we need to cut further in police and firefighters… Even if it causes severe hardship down the road. It will be terrible but I don’t think anything else will succeed.”
Mayor Pro-Tem Lois Richardson said while she realizes cuts are a necessity at this point, she believes reducing city services and jobs are not the only option.
“To cut firefighters at this time will certainly be a mistake,” Richardson said. “ Something I’ve said sitting in this seat over the last 12 years is that we have to look for revenue aside from taxes. As much of what I disagree with what our governor has done, he has been outside of the box. We can cut and cut and cut, but we’re going to get to a certain point when they’re knocking at our door with an emergency manager.”
City Clerk Frances McMullen said her department has been examining the possibility of decreasing the work week for city employees by adding a furlough day. The city may consider decreasing the work week from five days to four. If implemented, the city would save about $230,000.
“The workload would not change, it would just change the amount of time we would have to do it,” McMullen said. “We wouldn’t be able to turn around things as fast as usual, but the staff seemed to not be opposed to the furlough day because we would be closed every week on the same day.”
During the audience participation portion of the meeting, City Treasurer Kimberly Teamer addressed the council after a remark was made by a council member during a past council meeting about the possible combination or elimination of her job.
Teamer has worked for more than 21 years in the city, with the last 15 as interim and eventually city treasurer.
“I understand there are other positions in this city that were created and not in the charter that would save the city more money than cutting or combining the city treasurer position,” Teamer said. “It would be a sad day to see a person that has given 21 years of service and only four years left to retirement to be told that you no longer have a job.”
“There has been no council deliberation on that and its been no council decision on that its all part of the process,” Schreiber said. “We’re just trying looking at the options. We’re not even close to a decision on that.”
Comments
LongTimeResident
Sat, Jun 2, 2012 : 2:06 a.m.
If I were presently a member of the Ypsilanti City Council, I would resign after the disgusting turn out at the recent voting opportunity! If so few residents are interested in the existence of our city, let the Governor send down one of his poorly-trained experts and see if that satisfies the "non-voters."
YpsiVeteran
Thu, May 31, 2012 : 2:37 p.m.
@Greg: Yup. They don't. I hate to see the council continue on the path they're on, however. They are stuck in some defeatist, panic-driven mind-set. I'm all for long-range planning, but they seem to be hell-bent on killing the patient to cure a disease that the patient doesn't yet have. The financial realities of the local and state economies make it more prudent to worry about the next two years max, then regroup and reassess what is required going forward from there. More attention to increasing revenue this year and next, and less obsession with five years from now seems to be a better course of action.
YpsiVeteran
Thu, May 31, 2012 : 1:43 a.m.
Mr. Bodary, Ann Arbor just secured more than $600K in grant money to fund firefighter positions, both current and new. Has Ypsi pursued this source of funding for YFD? If not, why not? If a relatively flush community can get $600K, it would seem Ypsilanti would also qualify for quite a bit of cash.
Michael Bodary
Thu, May 31, 2012 : 3:55 p.m.
Good question Mr YpsiVeteran. Yes we are also requesting this grant, the SAFER grant, so with it we could fund some or all of the seven positions to avoid layoffs. This is never a done deal and we will not know the outcome for a few months yet. We have to plan for the worst and hope for the best when planning a budget.
greg, too
Thu, May 31, 2012 : 2:53 a.m.
The money is out there...you just have to go find it. But, on the city's behalf, they don't have anyone to do that.
YpsiVeteran
Thu, May 31, 2012 : 1:30 a.m.
What needs to happen here is that city employees need to go back to doing their own jobs, and stop trying to do the jobs of the people who are no longer employed. City staff has done such a good job of taking up added responsibilities that the public has no idea of the load they are carrying. Stop trying to insulate the public from the consequences of the cuts that have already been made. What also needs to happen is that Paul Schreiber needs to stop talking. How many times can he repeat that he doesn't have any ideas? We get it, already. Why don't you sit down for a week or so and let the new city manager offer some assistance/ideas? Especially since it's quite apparent that all the talking heads who were such experts on city finances during the election, who had so many great ideas they were just waiting to share, are now nowhere to be found.
Ypsilanti City Resident
Wed, May 30, 2012 : 6:18 p.m.
It would be a great detriment to the City to lose Kim Teamer, current Treasurer. I worked with her for years, she is smart, hard worker and could function in the Finance Department, the Assessors office and do her job. Carole Clare
Joe
Thu, May 31, 2012 : 8:15 p.m.
YpsiVet, I didnt say the treasurer made the decision on Water Street, but she surely had as a say in it. "The treasurer is responsible for determining the city's cash needs to pay current obligations"
YpsiVeteran
Thu, May 31, 2012 : 2:31 p.m.
Joe, thanks for rephrasing what I said. The treasurer only handles the money. Everything the treasurer does has to be approved by someone, and they don't make decisions like Water Street.
Joe
Thu, May 31, 2012 : 11:31 a.m.
"A city treasurer is responsible for the custody and management of a municipality's funds, and therefore has a special obligation to taxpayers. The treasurer is responsible for determining the city's cash needs to pay current obligations and to invest money that is not required to be kept liquid. A city treasurer works under the general supervision of the mayor and city council. The exact nature of daily business activities may vary by city and state, but customer service, sound accounting practices, wise handling of finances and administrative duties are required in every case" Read more: City Treasurer Duties | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/list_6382498_city-treasurer-duties.html#ixzz1wRi5JVVm
YpsiVeteran
Thu, May 31, 2012 : 1:17 a.m.
Joe, I would think that someone who portrays him/herself as having all the answers would be a little better acquainted with the facts of city government. The city treasurer has no say in the decisions made by the city council and city manager. The treasurer collects and reports on the money, and follows the instructions of the city manager/council. That's it. I'm not sure how many times this has to be said for some people to get it, but Lois Richardson is the only decision-maker left who was around and responsible for Water Street.
Joe
Wed, May 30, 2012 : 7:35 p.m.
Carole, What was Kim Teamer's role in the water street fiasco? Isn't part of the Treasurer's job to help manage a budget and ensure expenditures do not exceed revenues?
SEC Fan
Wed, May 30, 2012 : 6:13 p.m.
Paul Schreiber, Ricky Jefferson, Daniel Vogt, and Brian Robb all gave similar responses to AnnArbor.com's questions regarding how to increase city revenues and how to maintain current services with less revenues. http://www.annarbor.com/elections/voter_guide/ It would be nice to see a response from the mayor/council regarding the status of the ideas they gave when they were running for office. I read through these and did not see any statements about raising taxes / adding new taxes.
SEC Fan
Thu, May 31, 2012 : 7:11 p.m.
the link is above in my original post.
YpsiVeteran
Thu, May 31, 2012 : 3:27 p.m.
I'm not familiar with any of the campaign statements any of them made, so I don't know what you are referencing.
SEC Fan
Thu, May 31, 2012 : 3:02 p.m.
@YpsiVeteran. Interesting that your final post (independent post vs. reply post at the bottom) is actually one of the campaign promises I'm referring to :-)
YpsiVeteran
Thu, May 31, 2012 : 2:25 p.m.
The only thing I'm afraid of is people who put more stock in campaign rhetoric than they do in the information provided by the same people, after those people have been on the job and have become intimately familiar with the actual facts of a situation. You keep voting for people who tell you want you want to hear, however, Then keep ignoring them when they give advice based on the experience gained from actually doing the job. See how that works out for you. I agree this bunch seem to be on a path that is ill-advised. Assuming too much future financial disaster and decimating the city is just as bad as assuming too much financial largess and spending money you don't yet have. However, the information they are offering about today's situation is correct. There is no secret slush fund being used to spend wildly and wastefully. The problem comes in what to do next.
SEC Fan
Thu, May 31, 2012 : 12:24 p.m.
@YpsiVeteran. I guess I don't understand your objection to the 4 individuals addressing the promises they made during their campaigns. What exactly are you afraid to hear? We already have the highest property taxes in the county and one of the highest in the state and we are still running a deficit. Simply put, we (the city) are living beyond our means.
YpsiVeteran
Thu, May 31, 2012 : 1:34 a.m.
Has it escaped your attention that the current council HAS been maintaining services with less revenues for several years now? Are you somehow blissfully unaware of the precipitous and steady decline in property tax revenues over the last several years? Exactly how long did you think you were going to continue to pay less and get more?
Meaghan
Wed, May 30, 2012 : 6:10 p.m.
I'd like to see our new City Manager weigh in on this conversation. He had some interesting things to say in the last article a2.com ran on him.
Woman in Ypsilanti
Wed, May 30, 2012 : 5:52 p.m.
I love the idea of a furlough day. The only problem is that after a while a bunch of city residents will start whining about how they have to work five days a week in the private sector but those lazy public sector employees only have to work four. The reduced compensation for the city employees will be entirely forgotten.
dading dont delete me bro
Wed, May 30, 2012 : 5:06 p.m.
"Schreiber also brought up the idea of asking voters for a water street bond in November despite the fact residents voted against the Water Street debt retirement millage during the May 8 election." last i knew, "no" meant "no"
Honest Abe
Wed, May 30, 2012 : 4:24 p.m.
This is what happens when you have city workers who sleep in their trucks during the afternoon, officials driving city vehicles on their off time and taking the vehicles home, paying over $80,000 yearly for 2 parking enforcement officers when you do not even bring that in from parking revenue, not to mention the 2 brand new cars they drive. A few weeks back, I watched their DPW director shooting the bull for an hour and a half while leaving his city owned vehicle running (I was having lunch outdoors in Depot Town).
Joe
Wed, May 30, 2012 : 3:52 p.m.
What was Kimberly Teamer's role in the Water Street fiasco?
jbhuron
Wed, May 30, 2012 : 2:33 p.m.
"The mayor said he was open to further suggestions but he didn't have any other ideas as to how to increase revenue." No other ideas? 1. Grow the tax base by joining forces with the school district and stop the bleeding of residents due to our lackluster schools. This should be the number one priority. 2. Create public-private partnerships to share some expenses for shared services. 3. Lean initatives for the city offices? (when is the last time the processes were reviewed? tens of thousands could be saved with updated processes) 4. Combine the treasurer position. Lots of people have lost their jobs after 20 years of service close to retirement. It is not up to the residents to support one individual. Hopefully someone in the position of treasurer was smart enough to make retirement investments outside of a city pension.
Mark Hergott
Wed, May 30, 2012 : 2:12 p.m.
Wake the Voters up. Well... What happens when in spite of everything, the good people involved figure out how to make things work with less money and resources? What happens when despite the prognostications, people adjust their expectations and continue onward? Water Street will be paid off in 2032. Property values will return to their 2007 rates by 20025. As long as council continues to cut in the short run, we will see revenue increases in ten years or less. I can wait.
Murf
Wed, May 30, 2012 : 2:06 p.m.
"What are you smoking?" said council member Peter Murdoch in response to Schreiber's suggestion." Yet another timeless quote from Pete Murdoch, a person who is suppose to represent his ward and the city. I can see the slogan already for his re-election campaign.
Honest Abe
Wed, May 30, 2012 : 6:16 p.m.
Pete Murdock is a joke! He was not a great Mayor either in the 1980's.
xmo
Wed, May 30, 2012 : 1:30 p.m.
Ypsilanti is just another city run by Democrats. What do you expect? A balanced budget?
Honest Abe
Wed, May 30, 2012 : 6:14 p.m.
I agree. This city needs a big shake up. I would support a Conservative local government in Ypsilanti.
mjd12
Wed, May 30, 2012 : 12:48 p.m.
Ypsi Township please take the city.
Joe
Wed, May 30, 2012 : 3:39 p.m.
why the heck would the township want the city? Why doesnt the city annex the portions of the township north of 94, adding to their tax base, and keeping a more continuous boundary for services?
Paul Schreiber
Wed, May 30, 2012 : 12:41 p.m.
City council members get no retirement benefits or pension.
SEC Fan
Thu, May 31, 2012 : 2:56 p.m.
Convenient? ok. you seem to want to look at only specific line items; the ones that you believe support your position. Debt services increased by only $110K. However, you ignore: -- the $522K reduction in road maintenance -- the $100K increase in Recreation & Culture -- $600K increase in capital -- $50K increase in interfund transfers (reduction in expenditures) Frankly, you are proving my point. -- "General Government" - not sure what this is - expenditures decreased by some $400K. --- Police and Fire decreased by $90K. -- "other public safety" decreased by $136K. Yet, all these cuts were all offset by increases (e.g., the capital line item I mention above). That is why I gave the overall expenditure numbers. At the end of the day, it doesn't matter if you cut in one area, but increase in others. The debt allocation was not the major factor in offsetting all the other increases. We could have forgone the increase in "recreation & culture) and offset 80% of the debt service increase.
YpsiVeteran
Thu, May 31, 2012 : 2:20 p.m.
You can't include debt service payments in trying to assess what the city is spending on actual city services. Each department budget has been cut for the last several years, and the cuts amount to several hundred thousand dollars. The police budget was cut by more than $300,000 by itself in a little more than one year. It's convenient to lump all the "expenditures" into one category to attempt to prove your point, but you are wrong. The money the city spends on running each department and providing actual services has been cut drastically.
SEC Fan
Thu, May 31, 2012 : 11:59 a.m.
@ YpsiVeteran. Really? I would advise you to take your own advice. I did review the numbers. Latest numbers (as provided by the Ypsi government website: City Expenditures 2009: $21,417,814 City Expenditures 2010: $21,324,523 City Revenue 2009: $22,571,763 City Revenue 2010: $21,590,509
YpsiVeteran
Thu, May 31, 2012 : 1:18 a.m.
SEC, if you want anyone to take you seriously, you at least have to deal in reality. City expenditures have been cut by hundreds of thousands of dollars in the last few years. Unless you know what you are talking about, or are at least willing to learn, please stop spreading such falsehoods.
SEC Fan
Wed, May 30, 2012 : 5:40 p.m.
Mr Schreiber. Thank you for the clarification. I had tried to look this up on the Ypsi government website before posting, but couldn't find it. I think we - the voters - understand the challenges you and the council face. Revenues decrease cyclically but expenditures typically do not, at least not correspondingly so. We also understand governments face unique challenges in finding ways to decrease costs; your flexibility in this area is not great. However, the comments that are noted in this article are - at least in my opinion - egregious to say the least. We understand that you and the council were hoping for the proposed tax increases; this would have been an easy fix. But I for one am not happy using tax increases to solve the particular problem currently at hand.
Peter
Wed, May 30, 2012 : 1:31 p.m.
Don't let facts and reality cloud your decision making, Mr. Schreiber.
The Picker
Wed, May 30, 2012 : 12:37 p.m.
What is the current asking price for the Water St. Iceberg ? I think its time for an auction and cut our losses.
SEC Fan
Wed, May 30, 2012 : 11:37 a.m.
So the fiscal problems of Ypsi are the fault of the voters? Wow, typical of these elected officials. And then to suggest that they'll start cutting needed services (as opposed to finding ways to reduce/eliminate the waste we all know exists) so that they can "wake them (the voters) up" is negligence at best and borderline criminal. It's amazing, in the private sector, businesses continuously look for way to eliminate waste...when's the last time we've heard of such an initiative from our elected officials? Why can't the Ypsi government look internally to how the city is run before running to voters and blaming them for not raising their allowance? I simply cannot believe that the Ypsi government is run so efficiently that there is no possibility to streamline/improve efficiency. This group owes the residents of Ypsi an official and public apology for these abhorrent comments.
YpsiVeteran
Thu, May 31, 2012 : 1:22 a.m.
SEC, what, exactly, specifically, is the "waste" you claim "we" all know exists? You simply refuse to believe the city is run efficiently, and obviously refuse to find out for yourself what the facts are, and you think someone owes *you* an apology? Also, please refrain from speaking for the public at large. Unless someone's elected you to office, the rest of us are quite capable of speaking, and thinking, for ourselves.
Michael Bodary
Thu, May 31, 2012 : 12:32 a.m.
No elected official at any time blamed any voter for the problems. This current council did not incur the debts. I hope that after we make the cuts we clearly have to make in the next years the voters realize that a small replacement of the falling taxes they have been saving for the last two years might be a small price to pay for public safety and city services. The "wake up" will be when folks see that council is doing what they were forced to do by lack of revenue - make painful personnel cuts. You should pay closer attention. Streamlined?? Everyone at city hall does three jobs now. No apology is owed.
SEC Fan
Wed, May 30, 2012 : 3:07 p.m.
@pseudo. Are you a member of the city council or a paid "consultant" for them? honestly, we've "neglected" them? Wow...the poor mayor and city council. I had it all wrong. They're the victims in all of this! If only we voters had been there for them. The city would be in such great shape with budget surpluses and streets lined with gold. A true Xanadu we would be...
Murf
Wed, May 30, 2012 : 2:07 p.m.
I agree with your original comment, SEC. I can already find a way to save some money by cutting the number of city council members. At least in my area, I know one would be enough to represent the area.
pseudo
Wed, May 30, 2012 : 1:05 p.m.
No- you clearly don't. We ELECTED them to REPRESENT us in running the city. They have done that. And I don't know where you work but in my time in big corporations they gave lip service to looking for waste but our capitalistic enterprises are no better than Government (in fact some are worse - GM, DTE etc) in terms of waste and inefficiency. Now, there are two factual issues: 1) Council is elected and the haven't neglected their jobs or their responsiblitiy to us. We have neglected them - how many of us have shown up to the budget discussions? How many of us have shown up to talk to them at Council Meetings? How many of us have even bothered to read the budget and see what they are talking about? Council has been trying to find solutions to the structural issues in our tax code for many years. They saw this coming, they have been talking with us and solution-searching for years. You can complain all you want but we elected them. And lets not confuse Teamer with an elected official. I would argue for my job if I worked for the city as well. It is so easy to sit back and complain but the numbers have been clear for a long time and this is going to continue. Step up SEC - its your responsibility as much as it is mine. No blaming them if you haven't shown up!
SEC Fan
Wed, May 30, 2012 : 12:22 p.m.
@pseudo. Actually, I do "get it". We elected these people to run the city in an ethical and responsible manner. The fact that they are more interested in protecting their own well-being (e.g., Mr. Teamer's comments) and in punishing the voters (e.g., Mr. Bodary's comments) is reprehensible. I do not recall hearing this being part of their platform when they were running for election. At the end of the day, we, the voters, will be held accountable (because we pay the bills to which they obligate us), but the mayor and the council are culpable. It is their direct actions causing these problems. Furthermore, based upon the comments of the mayor and certain members of the council, I in no way feel that we are all "in this boat together". We bought the boat, hired them to steer it, they neglected it, ran it into the iceberg and now they're sitting in their perfectly sound lifeboat (protecting their retirement packages) as they are burning the other lifeboats to make a point that we should have given them more money to reinforce the hull so they wouldn't have to steer around the ice. I wonder, were you so adamant in supporting President Bush since "we" elected him and we were all in the "same boat"?
pseudo
Wed, May 30, 2012 : 11:54 a.m.
Yes, SEC - We voted these people in. We continue to vote these people in. Get it? We are responsible. Do you think these folks are the best and brightest Ypsi has to offer? If not, who is and why won't they run for these offices and lead? (possibly because people like you complain about everything but don't chip in on the solution side?) All of Ypsilanti is in this boat together and this group was elected by us - and you are as responsible as I am.
snoopdog
Wed, May 30, 2012 : 11:36 a.m.
"We have to cut seven firefighters and not fill any open positions. Perhaps in 2014 after these cuts have been made and they realize what it costs them in services, they'll soften up." The union folks will go down fighting till there is only one person left on the job. Teamer said. "It would be a sad day to see a person that has given 21 years of service and only four years left to retirement to be told that you no longer have a job." And here you go folks, they just don't get it. May I ask how old Teamer is ? 21 years on the job and can retire with full benies in just 4 more years. No wonder all these cities are going broke. Good Day
Cash
Wed, May 30, 2012 : 2:54 p.m.
The City Treasurer is NOT a union position...so much for your daily union attack.
Cash
Wed, May 30, 2012 : 11:24 a.m.
Small thinking will never resolve the problems here. "Wake up the voters"??? Oh, I think they are more awake than the city government! I don't see one suggestion in this article that would make a dent in the deficit. Surrounding the little isle of Ypsilanti, citizens depend on WCSD for police protection. Why not Ypsi? Have you spoken to Ypsilanti Township or Superior Township about taking over fire protection? Where is the analysis of contracting out both departments and selling off equipment and buildings? Has this been done? Could an arrangement be made for them to hire the current city employees, or any percentage of them? Guarantee if you don't look at dissolving these departments, the state will step in and do it for you, sooner rather than later. Wouldn't it be wise to do it while you still have some "say" in the agreement? Not pleasant thoughts. But you have to give up the idea of ANY new revenue. Citizens have spoken MORE than once. Definition of insanity....doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Sorry, but the only pill to take now is a bitter one. Now feel free to attack at will.
SEC Fan
Thu, May 31, 2012 : 3:52 p.m.
I understand what you're saying; I just didn't read it that way. I interpreted "taking over" to mean the same thing as a merger/combining of services. The overall running of the combined unit would most likely be the other municipality, but I understand your point.
ypsi 1
Thu, May 31, 2012 : 3:35 p.m.
SEC Fan The idea of merging (Authority) departments is an ongoing discussion. The idea of asking other govts. to do Ypsi firefighting is not. Superior has a very small department and has turned down joining the mutual aid group. Cash specifically said "taking over (Ypsi's) fire protection". What would be in it for them? Charity only goes so far. Mike Bodary
SEC Fan
Thu, May 31, 2012 : 3:11 p.m.
@Mr. Bodary. I don't necessarily agree with combining city fire or police services with other municipalities, but why is this "so left field"? The mayor actually proposed looking into this in 2010. " If re-elected as mayor of Ypsilanti, I will continue to support combining safety services with neighboring municipalities through efforts like the functional fire district. "
Joe
Thu, May 31, 2012 : 1:52 p.m.
Michael Bodary, "WCSD =$165,000/deputy/year. YPD=$121,000/Officer/year,(+cost of vehicle but that's already paid for)" What about equipment, technology, weapons, etc? Or when vehicles need to be replaced? And most importantly, what about pensions that will be paid for decades after service?
Joe
Thu, May 31, 2012 : 11:28 a.m.
YpsiVeteran, One sure way to decrease legacy costs is to have an EFM step in and negate all union contracts. Ypsi Twp is not required to contract with the WCSD. If WCSD doesnt want the township to offset it's operating costs for idle deputies that the state requires them to maintain, then they are free to charge astronomical rates. However, they are not stupid. They are being paid what the twps can afford. The Twp budget is balanced. It doesnt have current and impending increases in pension obligations that are crippling it.
YpsiVeteran
Thu, May 31, 2012 : 1:39 a.m.
Joe, the Twp. is locked in to paying whatever the sheriff wants. They have zero say in the matter. That's the reality of the situation, and that's why the Twp. is involved in a law suit with the county. Also, one sure way to increase legacy costs is to drastically slash the number of people paying into the pension system.
Michael Bodary
Thu, May 31, 2012 : 12:17 a.m.
Cash you're still in your bubble. Cuts are demanded by the balance sheet. If you came to council you could see that yourself. Fund balances are already held for pending projects. WCSD =$165,000/deputy/year. YPD=$121,000/Officer/year,(+cost of vehicle but that's already paid for). Problem for you is the same as for most of the public, they hear a few bits of info but don't listen to the whole story. Ypsi Twp or Superior Twp to do our fire protection????? Its hard to respond to this, it is so left field.
Joe
Wed, May 30, 2012 : 3:34 p.m.
pseudo, what your oft-cited cost per officer numbers claim it is cheaper to maintain local police force, you fail to acknowledge the true problem with maintaining that force: legacy costs. PD and pension obligations WILL continue to rise. Those are essentially no negotiable contracts. And those are a HUGE portion of your budget. The twp doesnt have that same locked in obligation when contracting with the sheriff.
Cash
Wed, May 30, 2012 : 2:52 p.m.
Well, Pseudo ..... here is the analysis????? SHOW ME THE COSTS AND THE SAVINGS!!! That's what I'm talking about. I see people here posting about how it won't save, blah, blah.... But why isn't council and the mayor costing it out for the citizens. No one is facing the obvious.....except me, I guess.....the state will come and do all of this without any input from the council or the mayor. It WILL happen.
pseudo
Wed, May 30, 2012 : 11:50 a.m.
WCSD is both less transparent AND more costly than our local folks. Ypsi Township's coverage is far less than we have currently and its costs them more. On the whole that switch would be terrible for the city. Ypsilanti needs local accountability and the advantages of our real police department. I didn't like the "wake up the voters" comment but I think it is true. And frankly, Cash selling off building and assetts (like which ones?) will work about as well as selling off waterstreet...get it? New ideas are needed but I think the voters gave this council a perfect reason to slash services and cut to the bone in ways you aren't going to like. They presented a case, got slapped back. AND...don't forget that we, the voters and citizenry ARE responsible for this - we voted these people in, we make their jobs impossible but hating everything they do and not respecting the time and effort they put in to serving us (and I might at doing so for free) and if you are so bloody smart - run for office.
A2James
Wed, May 30, 2012 : 10:35 a.m.
Annarbor.com has made some cuts in the editing department, apparently...