WTOL.com, Toledo's News Leader, News 11 | Springfield Township considering police contract options

Springfield Township considering police contract options

SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WTOL) - Lucas County is cutting police service to 7 townships, so taxpayers may have to pay to keep patrols. As a result, Springfield Township is considering a contract with the Village of Holland police.

A county administrator wants to cut costs between 7 and 15 percent by next year, so he's told the sheriff's department to cut all non-mandated services -- adding Lucas County residents pay for these police services, while townships get them for free.

Springfield Township administrator Leslie Kohli says thet needs to raise $2.5 million to keep police on the streets since Lucas County could pull deputies.

"We'll need to pay $2.438 million, plus the half a million that we needed for that other officer," said Kohli.

The township will ask tax-payers to pass a 4.5 mill levy on Nov. 3. It would cost the owner of a $100,000 home, $137 a year.

"We're going to have to have police protection... If we have to run levies or whatever we have to do," said levy supporter Harold Kleopfer.

Even if voters approve the levy, township trustees aren't sure they'll keep their contract with Lucas County.

Kohli says they'll discuss their options during a meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday.  "A contract with the Village of Holland would include 3 officers... as well as a sergeant... That also includes... the detective bureau drug enforcement," said Kohli. The option would also add up to 21 new police jobs.

If voters turn down the levy, patrols would stop at the end of the year.