It’s doubtful that Gov. Tom Wolf’s “Fair Service Fee,” proposed to generate money for Pennsylvania State Police (PSP), will get any further than his last two failed efforts.
Disregarding the miscalculations using inaccurate data that is already apparent, his “formula” is a mishmash of information that would be in constant flux from year to year.
The formula for imposing fees seems to be a mix of data that includes “tiers” of median income of a community, whether they have part-time or full-time police departments, and how much it costs the state to fund the barracks serving their community.
West Easton is in Tier 1, with a median income below $50,001. It would fall into the 10 percent of PSP costs for Belfast PSP operations.
For those communities that have police departments, further adjustments in a lower fee is made when the cost of the municipalities police department is factored in.
Obviously, Wolf’s initial release of fees he wants to impose on municipalities is wrong from the start. Locally, I can see two instances where calculations are incorrect. I’m guessing there are probably others throughout the state.
The Borough of Bath, that disbanded their police department two years ago, opting to depend entirely on PSP protection is scheduled to pay $2/resident. That’s the same rate as Wilson Borough, with a full-time police department and a million dollar police budget.
West Easton is reportedly to be paying $16/resident, despite the fact that we have spent tens of thousands of dollars toward a part-time police department that is now registered with the state and homeland security. We’ll pay the same rate as Glendon Borough, without a police department and $14/per resident more than Bath, that has only twice the population of West Easton.
The math just ain’t workin’. Others have noticed problems, as well.
Concerns have been made from the outset of Wolf’s proposed budget, but one State Representative believes the formula for PSP funding could be a progressive tax that runs afoul of the Uniformity Clause of the state Constitution, which requires that all taxes be levied equally upon the same class of subjects.
State Rep. Chris Quinn, R-168 stated, “I always listen to everything that the governor proposes. He represents the entire state. I represent the residents of the 168th and I have to make sure that yes, we have the police presence that we need, but also that we aren’t being disproportionately charged for services.”
That’s the same concern I have for West Easton residents, who are definitely being disproportionately charged in this “Fair Service” proposal offered up by Governor Wolf.
Disclaimer: On January 4, 2016, the owner of WestEastonPA.com began serving on the West Easton Council following an election. Postings and all content found on this website are the opinions of Matthew A. Dees and may not necessarily represent the opinion of the governing body for The Borough of West Easton.
