Atlas Twp.-Plans for a special assessment moved forward last week, as a public hearing was scheduled to take place next month.
The public hearing regarding township plans for a special assessment to cover police costs is slated for 6:30 p.m. on Aug.21, at the township hall, 7386 Gale Road, just prior to the regular monthly township board meeting.
The township established a contract with the Genesee County Sheriff’s Department about 10 years ago funded by one mill from area property owners. A property owner with a $200,000 home currently pays about $100 per year for police service. Since than the cost has continued to go up at a rate of about 6 percent per year. Currently the township pays $394,000 per year for four deputies in the township.
‘The cost of the contract will exceed the one mill funded,? township supervisor Paul Amman told The Citizen previously.
Earlier this year,Amman gave the board several options to make up for the shortfall, including: reduce police service; generate revenue; reduce the number of officers services the township or look at establishing an independent police department for the township.
Another option for increasing revenue would be a request of half a mil, a method Amman says taxes homeowners disproportionately .’Police service is uniform throughout the township. Everybody gets the same, ? said Amman.
While a special assessment can be unilaterally implemented by the township board without public approval, a mill would need to be approved by voters .
Before the board can proceed with plans for the assessment they must have two public hearings no less than 30 days apart to hear constituents, the first of which being the meeting scheduled to take place next month.