KALAMAZOO (WKZO-AM) — Kalamazoo County Sheriff Richard Fuller says his department is looking for any new projects or programs that could be taken on by the law enforcement millage, and may request a Headlee override when it goes to the polls for voter renewal in May.
An override of a state provision that limits the growth of tax assessments would generate another $400,000 for the pool of money used to fund jail operations and a number of other county law enforcement programs.
“A levy of 1.4491 means a home in Kalamazoo County with a $100,000 value with a tax roll of value $50,000 pays annually $72.48,” Fuller said.
With the Headlee override, however, it would be $75 annually for a typical homeowner.
Additionally, Kalamazoo’s Blue Ribbon Revenue committee has discussed creating a county-wide detective bureau or a regional police training program using money from the law enforcement millage as a way to trim the city’s public safety budget. It’s not clear if they could meet the county’s deadline for new projects.
County law enforcement agencies already have a countywide anti-drug squad and share Metro SWAT, and a proposal to combine dispatch centers is moving forward.
– John McNeil
