Responding to Wednesday’s column about the possible loss of police protection in the boonies, Ingham County Commissioner Randy Schafer sent me an e-mail urging voters to hold their noses, and pass the hat to hire some cops.
Schafer wrote: “I hope the ballot issues pass. The current board of commissioners has eliminated close to 58 positions in the sheriff’s department … It is drastically understaffed and the county is underserved.
“I have fought this issue since 1984. The reality is the department will continue to be cut because of the priorities of the board. The votes are solidly against the Department.
“Public safety is the most important function of government, for one cannot go to work, school or simply have a quality of life without it. I probably more upset than anyone, however, it doesn’t change the situation.”
Not everyone is willing to swallow that bitter pill. David Harns wrote:
“I’ll be voting no for the Ingham Township police assessment on Nov. 2, in part to call the bluff of the Ingham County Board of Commissioners, and to ask them: ‘Are you really going to take away the only legitimate service we get from our county taxes?’
“This is obviously just a ploy to raise the taxes of those of us who have little representation on the board.”
