Lyon Township Anticipates Over 30% Surge in Police Service Costs, Raising Concerns for School Resource Officers

Lyon Township Faces Significant Increase in Police Service Costs

Lyon Township is bracing itself for a hefty increase in police service costs, which could balloon over the next three years by more than 30%, translating to approximately $1.5 million. This news has stirred up feelings of frustration among local officials and raises serious questions about the funding for school resource officers in the township.

Concerns on Budgeting

Township Treasurer Patty Carcone shared her dismay, stating, “We are depressed about this. We matched (in the 2025 township budget) what we are going to have to spend, but going forward, it’s ridiculous.”

The cost hike stems from a decision made by the Oakland County Board of Commissioners last month, which approved a new contract for police services from the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office. The vote, which was tight at 10-9, will see an average of 15% increase in the first year followed by increases of 9% in each of the subsequent years.

Lyon Township previously set aside around $4.6 million annually to cover the salaries and benefits of 20 sheriff’s deputies, complete with their vehicles. But with the new rates in play, the township has now pushed its budget for police services to exceed $5.1 million for 2025.

Officials’ Outcry

Supervisor John Dolan expressed his disappointment, stating he and his fellow supervisors attempted to negotiate the steep increases with the county commissioners but found no common ground. “This is kind of tough on us,” he lamented. He also mentioned that township voters recently passed a 3.4 mills tax for police services in August, not anticipating such a dramatic hike.

Dolan’s frustration was echoed when he said, “We pleaded, ‘Give us some time, we just passed millages in August.’ All we heard was, ‘The cost is the cost.’” It feels like the township is carrying a heavy burden with this increase.

County Officials Defend Their Decision

Oakland County Board of Commissioners Chairman Dave Woodward had a different perspective. He stated that the conversation about whether communities fully covered the cost of police services had started three years ago. He clarified, “County taxpayers had long been subsidizing the cost,” hinting at a need to shift that burden back to the communities contracting for these services.

Woodward explained that the indirect service costs, which account for about 8% to 9% of the increase, should have been anticipated when dispatcher contracts were renegotiated. Among the rising costs are things like benefits, vehicle maintenance, and new equipment, pointing out that the sheriff’s office had to upgrade to more expensive vehicles due to manufacturer changes.

Impact on School Resource Officers

With these increases, the future of school resource officers in the township remains uncertain. The new contract introduced “a la carte” pricing, which could bump the cost for each school resource officer from around $157,000 to $187,000—a significant jump that some fear could be unsustainable.”

Lt. Leslie Whitfield, commander for the Lyon Township substation, indicated that current funding options might not suffice, highlighting, “It will be a challenging situation to keep three SROs, because by the end of 2027, they will be $222,000 each.”

Looking Ahead

Dolan believes the township could manage the increase for now with a fund balance nearing $6 million. However, he noted, “I don’t know what happens after 2027.” He remains optimistic that support for schools and resource officers will prevail despite the tumultuous financial landscape, stating, “If we have money, we will always come to the plate. These are our kids.”

The path forward for the funding of school resource officers—who have been supported in various ways, including state funding—is still being discussed. South Lyon Schools Superintendent Steve Archibald aims to meet with local officials to explore potential solutions.

As Lyon Township navigates these turbulent waters, it remains to be seen how officials will adapt to this new fiscal reality and ensure safety measures for their schools continue without compromise.