Final Vote Expected, Pontiac Police Cuts
Just one more vote to go, before the city of Pontiac hands over control of its police force to the Oakland County Sheriff's Department.
The idea has drawn some community opposition -- and it may get a little complicated, with labor contracts still to be negotiated and the union representing dispatchers has filed an unfair labor practice complaint over the plan.
Dozens of Pontiac residents and elected official spoke out, Thursday, against the plan pushed by the city's emergency financial manager.
"I would ask that you remember that this contract is not good for the city. This contract would not be a savings to the city -- it could even end up costing us more," said one resident.
Another citizen says this is all just political infighting.
"The information the city council has given shows no proof that there's a savings in the one-year contract between the sheriff's department and the police department," he said.
The decision now rests with the Board of Commissioners, after its finance committee voted 6-to-3 to approve a contract with the Sheriff's Department.
The plan to let the county take over city police duties in Pontiac is an effort to cut away at a $9 million deficit.
Pontiac's emergency financial manager, Michael Stampfler, says contracting with the county would save about $2 million a year.
