By By JOHN EBY / Dowagiac Daily News
CASSOPOLIS - Cass County commissioners recently approved billing insurance companies to recover costs for public safety services the Sheriff's Office provides at motor vehicle accidents.
Commissioners Alan Northrop, R-Marcellus, Dixie Ann File, R-Cassopolis, Minnie Warren, D-Pokagon Township, John Cureton, R-Dowagiac, and Johnie Rodebush, D-Howard Township, voted against Resolution 124 of 2005.
The Sheriff's Office responds to an increasing amount of vehicular accidents each year and has investigated different methods to maintain a high level of quality police emergency services throughout times of constantly increasing service demands.
Raising real property tax to meet the increase in service demands would not be fair to property owners, when many motor vehicle accidents involve individuals not owning property or paying property taxes in the Sheriff's Office jurisdiction, according to the resolution.
Costs shall be assessed against the responsible driver, representing an add-on cost of the claim for damages of the vehicles, property and/or injuries.
All amounts collected as a result of this program shall be placed in the general fund from which personnel, supplies and equipment for the Sheriff's Office are funded.
According to Sheriff Joseph M. Underwood Jr., one car responds to a property-damage accident, unless another unit is needed for traffic control; personal-injury accidents receive two cars and two deputies; and fatal accidents warrant two to four units.
These costs are billed at the base rate of $154 the first hour, including deputy, vehicle and report writing.