Stockbridge's Statement On Police Services Agreement

 Stockbridge City Manager Michael Harris issued a statement containing the city’s opinion and the financial terms being discussed.

“The City of Stockbridge and Henry County are in the process of renegotiating their long-standing agreement for police coverage for residents of Stockbridge,” he wrote. “The Henry County Police Department has provided coverage for the City of Stockbridge since 1978. Stockbridge officials assure residents that there will be no lapse in police protection for the city as negotiations continue.”

Aside from paying a previously agreed-upon fee of $500,000 per year for police services, Harris stated that the city has provided additional funds that average $2,617,639 per year over the last five years, and the city also has provided a police precinct building valued at $253,876 annually.

The county has proposed raising the $500,000 fee to $2 million per year over the next ten years, according to Harris, while the city made a counterproposal of $750,000 per year and asked for supporting documentation from the county that would support any increase.

“We believe the County has understated the amount that the City of Stockbridge has been paying for police services,” Harris wrote. “In the meantime, we expect that Henry County will continue to provide police protection for our citizens as we negotiate in good faith.”