ACHTUNG: This is not a “fair and balanced” story. It is an editorial by the editor.

It was troubling to acknowledge recently that the City of Wayland has the highest total local millage rate among cities in the county, a little over 43 mills, higher than Allegan Holland, Plainwell and Otsego.

Of course, this leads the curious to attempt to determine why. I stumbled on a possible explanation not long ago — spending on the police department.

The good folks at City Hall were gracious enough to provide me with the information when I asked for how much was spent in this fiscal year’s budget on police, compared to the numbers of five years ago, the 2012-13 budget. I learned that $683,795 was spent five years ago and this year the figure had increased by almost $200,000, or $876,954.

I am certain that expenses for local police went up by more than the rate of inflation. The costs rose by 28.2 percent, which is better than 5 1/2% per year.

I also discovered information about personnel that the police department not long ago had one chief, four full-time officers, three part-time officers, five reserve officers, a secretary and some admittedly outdated vehicles.

Today the Wayland PD includes a chief, a lieutenant, five full-time officers, six reserve officers, a secretary and three almost new Chevy Tahoe SUVs.

Some local citizens have approached me to ask if Wayland is overpoliced. The city does have a the State Police post, though it covers a rather large geographical area. The Allegan County Sheriff’s Department also provides some coverage when necessary.

Some have insisted to me that Wayland could get by with no local department or at least a scaled-down service.

Their argument:

• They have pointed out to me that Dorr and Leighton Townships, two of the most populated jurisdictions in Allegan County, are handled by two deputies from the Sheriff’s Department.

• They have noted the Village Hopkins, which once had a police chief and later one officer, now has abandoned local police and depends on the Sheriff’s Department as well.

• The Village of Martin in bygone days had a husband and wife police team, but that has since been abandoned.

• With State Police right in town and the possibility of sheritf’s coverage, they say, only a very minimum force within city limits is necessary.

• Most of all, they say, “Think of the money we’ll save.”

I don’t really know how to respond except that perhaps the City Manager, Finance Director and City Council should have a serious discussion about how much police service is needed in Wayland.