The Dexter City Council discussed a proposed one-year extension of the city’s police services contract with the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office during its May 11 meeting.
Under the proposed extension, Dexter would continue contracting with the sheriff’s office through Dec. 31, 2027, with a 4.25% increase in costs over 2026 rates.
The city currently contracts for 3.5 Police Service Units, or PSUs, including three full units and an additional half-unit dedicated to a school liaison officer. A PSU is the county’s standard measurement for contracted policing services and generally represents the staffing, patrol coverage, equipment and support costs associated with one full-time deputy assigned to a community.
For 2027, the proposed rate would increase from $192,680 per PSU in 2026 to $200,869 per PSU. The total projected annual cost to Dexter for 3.5 PSUs would rise from approximately $674,380 in 2026 to about $703,041 in 2027, excluding overtime expenses.
City Manager Justin Breyer told council the sheriff’s office requested the extension because the county’s Police Services Steering Committee is still working through the process and “theoretically that’ll come back with a recommendation for a multiyear contract that will either look very similar or have some changes to our current contract with the sheriff’s office. But essentially, they’re looking for more time to get through that process, and they don’t know if they will complete it before the end of 2026.”
Breyer said the proposed extension has been distributed to all communities contracting with the sheriff’s office, though he was unsure how other municipalities were responding.
Council discussed the proposal May 11, but no formal action was taken. The item is expected to return for future consideration.
114 North Main St Suite 10 Chelsea, MI 48118
