Ten Questions About the Farmington Public Safety Dispatch Proposal

residents asked more than two dozen questions during on a proposal to contract for dispatch and inmate housing services with the .

City manager Vince Pastue presented an overview of the proposal to about 80 residents gathered in the auditorium. Council members are expected to vote April 16 on an interlocal agreement that would move the services to , at a cost of $260,000 annually. The city currently spends $360,000 on dispatch and inmate housing. 

Here are some of the answers residents received:

1. Why isn't Farmington taking on Farmington Hills dispatch services?

Farmington Hills, which also provides dispatch services for Franklin and Bingham Farms, has a larger facility, Pastue said. Farmington's dispatch center would have to be expanded. Also, the center of the two cities is around 11 Mile and Farmington Rd., and Farmington Hills Police Dept. at 11 Mile and Orchard Lake is closer to it.

2. What is the trend for crime in Farmington? 

According to Public Safety Director Robert Schulz, serious crimes have been slowly declining over the past five years, while less serious crimes have increased. He said the department averages about 6,200 runs each year. 

3. Farmington Hills and other communities have held successful public safety millage elections. Why not Farmington?

Pastue said city employees have seen themselves as a team through wage and benefit cuts needed to balance the city's budget. In addition, he said, Farmington's "city fathers" built a 20-mill cap into the city's charter to pay for all city operations, including public safety. By setting them apart with a separate millage, he said, "I think you lose a little bit of us." 

4. Why aren't residents being given the chance to vote on this?

It is within the city council's purview to enter into the contract for dispatch and inmate housing, Pastue said. In addition, a vote on the contract would not be binding, but would only advise officials of public opinion. 

5. How long does this contract last and what happens if Farmington Hills ends up contracting with another city for its dispatch services?

Pastue said he would expect the contract to be at least five years. It would include contract language to cover the possibility of reassigning the contract. He said he would want to see a minimum of 18 months notice should that happen. 

6. What's the rush?

Delaying the move will mean a bigger rush to make the transition, Pastue said. He added that he believes the timing is right, with Chief Chuck Nebus, who previously served as Farmington Public Safety director, "leading the charge" in Farmington Hills.

7. What about seeking out grants to cover more of the city's budget?

Pastue said he believes federal and state grant dollars are becoming less available, given large deficits at those levels of government. 

8. How will saving $100,000 a year with this contract make up for the anticipated million-dollar budget deficits? 

The contract, Pastue said, is no "silver bullet". The city is also looking at ways to reduce retiree health care costs, along with other cost-saving measures. "It doesn't end with this," Pastue said. "What it does is it buys us time to look at some other alternatives. We don't want to find ourselves in a crisis situation." 

9. Why not look at making cuts in other areas? 

Pastue said officials have already cut employee salaries 5 percent, placed a "hard cap" on health benefits, cut 12 percent of the city's administrative positions and last year, implemented a "modest" millage increase. He said cuts to street maintenance and snowplowing, closing city hall every Friday and eliminating funds for downtown development would quickly have very visible, negative effects on the community and its attractiveness to new residents and potential business developers. 

10. Isn't this just a step toward consolidating the Farmington Public Safety and Farmington Hills Police Departments?

Farmington Public Safety is still very cost competitive and has good response times, Pastue said. Franklin and Beverly Hills have both maintained their own police force while contracting for dispatch services, as have other communities. Plus, Pastue added, "We'd be out on the football field for that dialogue."

To share your thoughts about this issue with city officials, find their contact information on the City of Farmington website. Farmington-Farmington Hills Patch also welcomes letters to the editor.