(MARINE CITY) — Marine City has decided to keep its police department after considering contracting out law enforcement services to save money. Members of the City Commission on Thursday unanimously agreed to end talks with the St. Clair County sheriff’s department about possibly taking over from local police in the community along the St. Clair River. City Manager Elaine Leven told commissioners she didn’t think it was the right time to move forward with the idea, saying potential savings “were not very impressive.” Marine City has trimmed its budget, including cuts at the end of 2015. The police department saw its budget cut from roughly $825,000 to $542,000. Cost-cutting and consolidation efforts have closed some other Michigan police departments, with other agencies taking over policing.
