Twp hashes out police presence funding

SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP, Ohio - The future of a police presence for Springfield Township drew a large crowd Wednesday night.

A meeting was held to lay out police service proposals from the Lucas County Sheriff's Office and the Village of Holland. The trustees said this was a way for them to compare the offers and see just how similar they are.

Earlier this year the Lucas County commissioners and the sheriff's office decided to pull their regular patrols out of Springfield Township because of budget concerns.

Sheriff James Telb's office is proposing a three-year contract with the township to provide policing. It would start at $2,348,303 for the first year. Sheriff Telb said that is 65% of what it would cost his department to staff the area.

That number would jump to $2,691,000 in 2011, and in 2012, that number would raise to $2,954,000.

The Village of Holland’s proposal is similar. It asked Springfield Township for $2,634,776 to provide police patrols in 2010. In 2011 the cost would drop to $2,391,118, and in 2012 the price would be $2,543,129.

Any decision on the proposals will not come until after the Nov. 3 election. Springfield Township voters will decide on Issue 8- a 4.5-mill tax levy which would pay for police.

Springfield Township is holding an informational meeting on Issue 8 Thursday. It will be at 8 p.m. immediately following a 'meet the candidates' forum in the Springfield High School cafeteria.