10 officers to be added to Flint Police Department - ABC 12 – WJRT – Flint, MI

(11/14/12) - The voters spoke. Taxpayers will put up the money. And soon there will be more police officers on Flint streets.

Ten police officers will be added to Flint Police Department.

But how long with they stick around? According to Emergency Financial Manager Ed Kurtz, these officers are permanent.

The money to pay for the officer is coming from that millage that was passed Nov. 6.

It's a six mill tax increase. That would cost the average homeowner $79 a year.

The money generated will pay for the 10 officers. In fact, they're hiring new officers right now.

"It will allow us to add officers and to stabilize our police force over the next five years," Kurtz said.

Kurtz handed us a chart Wednesday, saying the public safety staffing will be around 250 for next year. That includes police and fire.

Kurtz also said some of the revenue will be used as a safety net to pay for public safety officers when some grants expire - like the safer grant, which covers the salaries for firefighters.