Why let Midway off the hook on share of police budget?

This is in regard to the Sun’s article “Versailles City Council considers increase to its share of police budget to assist Midway,” dated June 3.

Midway citizens will not have any police protection if the mayor of Midway goes ahead with reneging on the contractual agreement that the Midway City Council voted unanimously to agree on. Did you read last week’s article? Also, why is our current Versailles Mayor Laura Dake, who is in charge of the Versailles police, agreeing with this? Why should all of Versailles be responsible for more taxes to give to the taxpayers of Midway for police protection?

If they are to pull out of the contract, they won’t have ANY police. There are only two Kentucky State Police vehicles. Only two, for the Frankfort, Woodford and Scott sectors, and there are no guarantees that KSP will be able to assist in answering emergency phone calls.

How many cities the size of Midway, whose population is +/- 3,240, do not have their own police department?

Police protection has been underpaid for decades in Midway. But, two years ago, a contract was signed with the city of Versailles in regard to their percentage of payment. To be specific, Midway’s share is 6.5%, Woodford County’s share is 38%, and Versailles is 55.5%. The dollar amount of this year’s increase for Midway is $52,000.

Mayor Vandegrift is quibbling over this amount, in a multi-million-dollar budget, to end up with no police protection for the citizens of Midway. NONE. Do these citizens even know this? This is basically defunding the police.

Regarding the city and county taxes Midway citizens already pay would not increase their tax obligation because the excessive amount of payroll taxes Midway is now receiving that they formerly didn’t have.

So, if Midway reneges from the contract, what will that extra 6.5% of funds be spent on by it? Nobody has said. Mayor Vandegrift states that this cost has been going up for 10 years. EVERYTHING has gone up. Every July 1, police officers get a raise. EVERYBODY has to pay for this. The actual rate hasn’t increased, the number of jobs required has. This is Midway’s responsibility and decision, no part of this responsibility falls on Versailles.

Toni Congleton,

Versailles