Security could soon come at a cost
Published 11:41 pm Thursday, January 13, 2011
“Yes, ma’am. We can provide you with some security and some crossing guards.”
“Just how many hours will you need them?”
“OK. Your total comes to $233.15. Would you like anything else?”
What you’ve just read is a hypothetical conversation that very well may happen now at the Selma Police Department or at Selma City Hall. This week, leaders approved a pricing structure that will be charged to groups asking for aid from the city’s police department for security or the help of the department for crossing guards and traffic control.
The structure is designed to help the police department offset more than $60,000 that was spent last fiscal year on providing such assistance to groups and events at no charge.
While we applaud the decision to help ensure the department doesn’t operate at a loss, more information may be needed on what constitutes the need for such assistance and do events as the annual Bridge Crossing Jubilee or Riverfront Market Day now need to factor in additional costs into their budgets? At first glance, the per hour price tag for police aid and traffic assistance may seem high to those event organizers.
But, not having their presence, expertise and visibility around may be far more costly a price to pay. It will be interesting to see just how the new pricing structure is applied and the tally that may be generated by some of Selma’s larger events.