The Dexter City Council has approved a one-year extension of the city’s police services contract with the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office, securing law enforcement coverage through Dec. 31, 2027.
The extension, requested by Sheriff Alyshia Dyer’s office, provides additional time for the recently reinstated Police Services Steering Committee to review and discuss future contract methodologies, cost allocations, and policing services.
Under the agreement, the cost per Police Service Unit (PSU) will increase by 4.25% in 2027, matching the increases adopted for 2025 and 2026. The 2027 rate will be $200,869 per PSU, up from $192,680 in 2026.
A Police Service Unit, or PSU, is the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office’s standard measure for contracted police services. Each PSU generally represents the staffing and resources associated with one full-time deputy assigned to a community and includes salary and benefits, equipment, uniforms, patrol vehicle expenses, training, supervision, dispatch services, records management and other administrative support. The unit serves as a budgeting and staffing measure rather than a guarantee that a deputy will be on duty at all times, as deputies work varying shifts and schedules.
Dexter currently contracts for 3.5 PSUs, including three units for general police services and a half-unit dedicated to a School Liaison Officer. Based on that staffing level, the city’s annual contract cost will rise from approximately $674,380 in 2026 to about $703,041.50 in 2027, excluding overtime expenses.
According to the sheriff’s office, a portion of the county’s Public Safety and Mental Health millage continues to offset the cost of providing contracted law enforcement services, helping reduce the difference between the actual cost of service and the contract price paid by participating communities.
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