Southern York County Life

Chief, I just read this article in the YDR.  I know you have been involved in conversations with Fawn Borough about expanding police coverage or starting their own force.  What is your opinion on this article?  Should folks push for local enforcement with thier township councils or is the rate being charged by the state fair.  I thought that state police were included in the taxes that we already pay to the state, but that is not a fight I am ready to fight.  They just keep digging and digging into our pockets, and we have no say.  I look forward to seeing your thoughts.  I am amazed by the last line of the article below that discusses the fees going to pay for highways and bridges too.  That just tells me it is another tax on rural folks to pay for city projects.

Pennsylvania municipalities without full-time police forces would have to pay for the state troopers who patrol their streets under a bill that a state House committee narrowly passed this week.

The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Mike Sturla, D-Lancaster, said it would generate about $450 million annually to help pay for state police operations, new state police cadets, equipment, cooperative police pacts, and to maintain Pennsylvania’s highways and bridges.

......and if they do levy this new tax on us, I want to see more than 1 State Police car passing through twice a week.

Based on recent census numbers I would say it would be cheaper to start your own force or join forces with another municipality to create a regional force.

2000 Census Numbers
East Hopewell Township has 2,209 people = $344,604
Hopewell Township has 5,062 people = $789,672
Fawn Township has 2,727 people = $425,412
Fawn Grove Borough has 463 people = $72,228
Peach Bottom Township has 4,412 people = $688,272
Delta Borough has 741 people = $115,596

Already covered by Stewartstown PD part time:
Stewartstown Borough has 1,752 people = $273,312
Cross Roads Borough has 518 people = $80,808
Winterstown Borough has 516 people = $80,496

Tha previous three would be on the hook for some percentage since Stewartstown PD does not currently provide full time coverage.

Covered by North Hopewell PD part time:
North Hopewell has 2,507 people = $391,092 if not covered at all by their own. Based on their previous agreements, they only cover about 40% of their hours so they would be on the hook for about 60%.

With numbers like this, it is easy to see that a regional police force would be a cheaper alternative. You know #### well the State Police are not going to hire many more troopers. They are already having budget shortfalls so any money they rake in will beef up their budget. The total cost to provide 24x7 coverage to all the above areas by State Police would be well over $3,261,492 per year (population has risen since 2000!).

Using EMS standards, in order to provide full covereage by 2 people 24x7 you need about 10 people on schedule each week. Add at least one or two more for surge/vacation coverage. Right away you would see an increase in protection and response. Way more then we would ever get from State Police.

Without knowing true budget numbers it is hard to guess costs but let’s make some educated assumptions:

Officer salary: $40K average plus benefits/insurance = $60K/yr x 12 = $720,000
New vehicle each year to rotate fleet of five = $60,000
Fleet maintenance at 25% of cost per year = $75,000
Mortgage on new space for station = $100,000 (6000 sq ft plus bays for cars, based on lease rates)
Training, equipment, supplies = $250,000

Wow. For about $1.25 million to about $1.5 million this area gets full coverage by a locally responsive force. Maybe I over simplified the numbers but there is no way it would cost as much as State Police. Assuming covering all the above mentioned areas, 20,907 citizens would receive protection for about $71.74 per year each. I would be willing to pay that.

Thanks for the reply Alex.  Looks like you are on the right track.  I do know that Fawn Borough and Peach Bottom/Delta were talking about starting up something, and I recall chatting with the Chief about it.  I would rather have a locally run force than rely on the PSP.  They are good at what they do, but to your point they will not get more staff and the new tax revenue gained from the local authorities will be squandered on more pet projects instead of the original intent.

markG - 03 July 2009 10:32 AM

Thanks for the reply Alex.  Looks like you are on the right track.  I do know that Fawn Borough and Peach Bottom/Delta were talking about starting up something, and I recall chatting with the Chief about it.  I would rather have a locally run force than rely on the PSP.  They are good at what they do, but to your point they will not get more staff and the new tax revenue gained from the local authorities will be squandered on more pet projects instead of the original intent.

I wish they would, then maybe I could get a local job closer to home and out of frikin MD