FLINT -- Another battle in the war over public safety funding concluded Monday night, with city council members striking down a plan to put five police officers on the streets, patrolling Kettering University and nearby neighborhoods.
Kettering currently funds two officers according to documents provided by the Flint Police Officers Association; however the plan debated by council would have Kettering and the City of Flint jointly fund three more positions. That would have given the more than 2,000 students, along with staff, residents and businesses surrounding the campus 24-hour police protection.
President Dr. Stanley Liberty said would-be students worry about their safety. “One of the major reasons why students didn’t come to Kettering who were admitted was the security issues in Flint and the image of Flint,” he said. ‘
“I don’t know what to make of this (council vote) except its pretty clear to me some members of council don’t understand the economic value of Kettering University,” he said.
Flint Mayor Dayne Walling echoed the discontent. "I'm very disappointed with the city council. Public safety is the city's number one priority,” he said.
One of the sticking points was how the city’s financial contribution for the additional officers would be secured. Councilman and finance committee Vice Chairman Joshua Freeman said money allotted in a line-item budget put forth by the administration could not be guaranteed, given his projections of a $2-4.5 million deficit for this fiscal year.
However other council members including Sheldon Neeley and Scott Kincaid pushed for a vote on the issue, before the measure failed and talks broke down. Police union documents report the city funding only 29 of 88 police officers (excluding any of the higher ranks). The other 59 are funded via millage dollars and other grants.
Meanwhile Mayor Walling’s administration and council members will have to consider additional public safety layoffs or request an income tax increase from residents to maintain services. It’s not known when additional meetings will be scheduled to discuss these possibilities.
