County Board Votes on Police Services Cost

At its Nov. 17, 2010 meeting, the Washtenaw County board of commissioners gave initial approval to a resolution that sets the cost of a police services unit (PSU) at $176,108. A PSU is the term used for a sheriff’s deputy who is hired on a contract basis to serve local townships and other municipalities. The amount includes direct costs like salary and fringe benefits, as well as indirect costs and overhead. The board is expected to take a final vote on the cost issue at its Dec. 1 meeting. They still need to decide how much the county will charge contracting municipalities per PSU – an amount that will likely be lower, offset by a county general fund contribution. For background on this issue, see Chronicle coverage: “Washtenaw Police Services: What’s It Cost?

This brief was filed during the board meeting at the county administration building. A more detailed account of the meeting will follow: [link]