A little less rumor, A little more fact

The Main Line Times has a full article on the Narberth Police Department issue.  I'll summarize here:

• Lower Merion approached Borough Council with an unsolicited proposal to take over the Police Dept.
• Lower Merion suggests a total annual savings of $1.2 million across both municipalities.
• Narberth currently spends $900,000 per year on its Police Department
• It would be difficult for Narberth police officers to be hired by Lower Merion Police Dept due to differing educational requirements.
• Mary Jo Pauxtis, Council President, recommended the Finance Committee look into the proposal.
• Andy Haakenson, Council Member, said "I think we should hear them out."
• Mayor Tom Grady is against the integration: "I think you have to look at some of the services you get from our officers that you will never, never get from Lower Merion."

I would imagine that the next Borough Council meeting will present more facts on the issue.  Imagine that the Borough can save $500,000 per year by accepting the proposal.  That number seems implausibly high based on a $900,000 per year current expenditure but, let's use it for now.  That works out to about $150 per year in taxes for each household. 

We have three choices:

1. Decide, as a community, to pay a premium rate for our existing premium service.
2. Accept the proposal and receive cost savings somewhere between $0 and $200 per year per household.
3. Find some compromise solution that saves some money but maintains our police force.

What do you think is best?  Feel free to post your comments below.

Comments

[Longtime Narberth resident]

It seems like a no brainer to keep the Narberth Police Department. If it is going to cost my household $200 a year to keep MY police department who knows My family and MY town where is the question??

[4 1/2 year Narberth resident]

We will never get the personal service from LMPD we get from our Narberth force. Personally, to my family, the peace of mind is worth the extra money. The council must find other ways - possibly reduced spending!?!? (perish the thought) - to curb ever increasing taxes.

[Next to Narberth]

4 1/2 year Narberth resident:
We all want to have our cake and eat it too, i.e. have your taxes reduced while getting additional municipal services.

This is an impossible feat.

Narberth is being handed a way out of ever increasing costs of the NPD by having a small extention of the very capable LMPD patrol the half mile square that comprises Narberth.

While the LMPD coverage, and the reduced cost to Narberth taxpayers is a no brainer, the emotional ties that the citizens have with their own police department is the issue.