FLUSHING TO MULL ASKING HALF-MILL TAX FOR DARE

FLUSHING -- City residents could be asked to decide the future of a popular
school police program at the Aug. 3 election.

On Monday, the City Council voted to hold a public hearing on May 24 to
place a 0.5-mill request on the primary ballot to continue funding the
school district's Drug Abuse Resistance Education. The program is being
phased out this year due to the loss of state DARE funding and the
expiration of the city's federal COPS in Schools grant.

The issue gained widespread public attention in January when district
parents and students launched a heated protest against the transfer of Sgt.
Eddie Dolgan, a popular DARE liaison officer, to regular patrol.

City officials had hoped to enlist funding help from neighboring townships
in the district. However, Flushing Township already provides a liaison
officer at the high school, while Flint, Clayton and Mt. Morris townships
share in several other school districts.

"We made a commitment if we didn't hear anything from the townships that we
would put this on the ballot, and we will," said Councilman Mike Szukhent.

The 0.5-mill levy would provide about $105,900 to support the program for
three years. It would cost the owner of a home with a taxable value of
$100,000 about $50 a year.

QUICK FACTS

At issue

What: Should Flushing residents be asked to approve a 0.5-mill levy to fund
a school police liaison officer and DARE program in the Flushing School
District?

What's next: Public hearing at 7:30 p.m. May 24 at City Hall, 309 E. Main St.