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ONONDAGA COUNTY, N.Y. -- The controversial proposal to abolish the East Syracuse Police Department is heading to the polls in just over two weeks. The village board announced at a public hearing Monday that the dissolution will be subject to referendum on October 16th.

The proposition calls for the village to do away with its police department, handing responsibility over to DeWitt Police.

Six village officers would be transferred to DeWitt as well and East Syracuse would pay the town $400,000 for five years to take on the responsibility.

East Syracuse Mayor Dan Liedka says if the plan does not pass, taxes could rise up to 20 percent and close to half the village work force could lose their jobs.

"The long term future of the village is at stake here and I think people have to look at it not only as just ‘in the moment,’ they have to look ahead and this is the way we preserve the village," Liedka said.

Liedka says with the increase of pension and health care costs, the community could still see cutbacks within the police department if the plan does not pass.