Rural townships are reacting to news that the Ingham County Sheriff's Department patrols may be in jeopardy unless townships pay a little extra for the service. One township supervisor is angry about what this could mean.

Dallas Henney, Leslie Township Supervisor: "It's dangerous and people are going to get hurt."

Tough words from Leslie Township Supervisor Dallas Henney reacting to a letter he received from the sheriff asking them to pay for patrols.

Dallas Henney: "We'd have to be asking for substantial millage money to maintain this type of service that the county's been providing."

And right now it's something they just can't afford.

Dallas Henney: "We're not prepared in these small rural townships to deal with these issues."

He blames leaders at the Capitol for problems facing local government, saying their tough decisions are forcing even tougher choices on rural townships.

Dallas Henney: "We're like the tail end of a dog, we're getting wagged around here and we don't have a lot of control."

But it's not just township residents who will be effected, people inside Leslie's city limits fear what life would be like without sheriff patrols.

Andrea Oakley, Leslie resident: "It scares me, because if the Leslie police department is closed and we can't call Ingham County, then what do we do?"

Andrea Oakley owns a home in Leslie. She wants to keep seeing Ingham County patrol cars passing by, even if it means paying more money.

Andrea Oakley: "It would be tight, but it's one of those expenses that you would have to make work, because you got to keep your children safe."

In Ingham County, keeping your children safe might cost a little extra. Rural townships in Ingham County can expect another more specific letter from the sheriff's department in the next few days.