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[NightmarePatrol]

Residents in townships with more than 10,000 people should be assessed $100 each annually if the townships use state police services rather than a local police department, a lawmaker said Thursday.

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[CindyLouWho]

So if I call 911 and they send PSP instead of a local that is my fault?  That certainly happens.  And our locals are not on call 24/7 necessarily.  I mean, they aren't sitting in the office waiting for my call at 3:00 a.m. in many small municipalities.And the PSP is well funded is it not?  I know many of the townships have struggled to keep their little departments.   This doesn't seem fair. 

[gore range]

....per the data-

.....Sadsbury population: 2,941....

..... of which, there are 1,274 households.....

.....and 845 families.....

[NightmarePatrol]

Remember this only applies to townships with more than 10,000 people and would be an annual fee for police service.  I would note that the north-east US is about the only section of the country where the sheriff's departments are not used for such a purpose. I wonder why this is?

[CindyLouWho]

I forgot about the 10,000 thing right out the gate.  Hot head me.

I'm in Greenwood now Gore.  Bet the stats are a bit different out here in the sticks.

[gore range]

....1,424 people....

....560 households....

....427 families....

[pinball]

Even though it initially seems unfair, there are a few communities, like the one by me, who have a population of almost 20,000.  They have average home prices of between $300,000 and $400,000 and flat out refuse to have their own police departments.  Alot of smaller, less afluent, communities have their own force. So in essence the smaller communities are subsidizing the State Police for them.  Since they have no police force of their own, they use the State Police more than the smaller towns that have their own police.  Their argument is that they already pay for State Police so why should we pay for our own.  This township also bought a clubhouse from a former country club and pool to use as a municipal building, library and  rec center.  I guess it all depends on what your priorities are.

[Lifetime]

My late take.....
 
What I came to understand.... if you have less that approx. 15k population and have opted to close out your local police station, you can request that the PSP take over. Conneaut PA is a good example of this having happened off and on.
 
I have been of the mindset that if the PSP has to "pick up" these areas... we need 2 things to make this even across the board..
 
1) the PSP need to have a higher hiring ceiling. At present and by LAW there can not be more than approx 4000 PSP total...even though their coverage has increased.
 
2) It is only right that communities who got rid of their Police to save money...  should pay for the use of PSP... rate has to be figured out better.
 
When I hear the community arguments that they are already paying taxes for the PSP service... I just say, "what do you think I pay?" I pay the tax for the PSP as well as city tax for local police...
 
75% of the PSP budget ( non turnpike) is from PA Gas Tax and PA Vehicle fees with 25% from the PA General Fund. I buy gas and pay fees like my license and registrations and my tax money goes into that General Fund. Turnpike Troopers are financed mostly on what fines are retrieved from leadfoots and maniacs. Ever notice how new the Turnpike cars are in relation to the local Barracks???
 
So.... don't cry to me that you already pay for the PSP because.... WE ALL DO!!!! and some still pay for local police.... Give me a break... There is NO FREE LUNCH.
 
 

[Jayhawk]

I'm with Lifetime on this.

Police protection is a necessary service. Most towns tax accordingly and provide it. Many tiny, rural townships that provide little other than road plowing or oiling have never had the ability to mount a police force and have used PSP. However, there is a growing number of decent-sized towns that drop their local depts. and simply expect the PSP to take over. That's what this is about.

It's like a gainfully employed person deliberately choosing not to have health or car insurance just to save money, but whenever they have an urgent need for coverage they expect special discounts or charity coverage.

Fair is fair no matter what size the town. It's not unreasonable to expect everyone to pay a reasonable fee if their town can't or won't pay to fund a full-fledged police force.

[Jayhawk]

And in response to some of the earliest posts in this thread, it's not a matter of 911 accidentally dispatching the wrong dept. If your town has police, they get dispatched. If not, protection falls on the shoulders of the PSP (which occasionally involves only 2-3 cruisers covering 100+ square miles)