Holland Township seeks public safety millage hike in August
HOLLAND TWP. — Holland Township voters will be asked in August to consider renewing the township's millage that pays for police and emergency medical response at a higher rate.
The police and E-Unit millage funds Holland Township's contract with the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office to provide law enforcement and E-Unit emergency medical response services to the township.
The funds raised by the millage no longer cover the cost of the sheriff's office contract. Last year, the township's law enforcement costs were $1.7 million and the millage brought in $1.3 million in tax revenue. The $367,858 shortfall was covered by the township's general fund.
Holland Township Manager Steve Bulthuis said the growing township's needs for law enforcement services have exceeded their current capacity, as well, and the township is seeking enough funding to add two deputies to the community policing team.
The ballot proposal asks voters for a renewal and increase of the police and E-Unit millage at 1.5 mills for the next four years. The millage has held steady at 1 mill since the 1980s.
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The contract with the sheriff's office provides for five community policing deputies dedicated to Holland Township. A number of personnel are shared between Park Township and Holland Township at a 25-75 percent split: eight E-Unit deputies, one E-Unit sergeant, one community policing sergeant and one traffic enforcement deputy. The township also receives as part of its contract 15 percent of a school resource deputy position and 11.5 percent of a second traffic enforcement deputy.
The E-Unit provides medical first response in the township and is staffed by deputies who are also trained paramedics.
If the 1.5-mill proposal is passed by voters, the township would be able to cover the costs of police services for the next two years, including adding two deputies and their equipment at an estimated cost of $470,000. The township intends to spread that cost over several years.
Law enforcement costs would again start to exceed funds generated by the millage in 2025, according to projections drawn up by the township.
Bulthuis said the two additional deputies were recommended by the sheriff's office given the number of calls for police or emergency service in the township.
Holland Township consistently accounts for 24 percent of all incidents the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office responds to annually, about 18,000 incidents in 2019 and 16,000 in 2020, according to the sheriff's office's annual reports.
The deputies would join the community policing team in Holland Township that works on crime prevention in addition to responding to calls.
The crime prevention programs include a program aimed at reducing crime at apartment complexes, assisting businesses with shoplifting issues, underage tobacco and alcohol sales monitoring and engagement with community organizations and social services.
The ballot proposal will be decided in the Aug. 2 primary election.
— Contact reporter Carolyn Muyskens at cmuyskens@hollandsentinel.com and follow her on Twitter at @cjmuyskens.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Holland Township seeks public safety millage hike in August
