Wednesday, December 18, 2002
The budget is contingent on the Fraternal Order of Police's approving a change in insurance carriers.
FARRELL, Pa. -- The Southwest Mercer County Regional Police budget for 2003 won't change, but the member municipalities are being asked to increase their contributions to the department.
The police commission approved the $1,167,000 spending plan Tuesday with chairman James DeCapua announcing that the dollar amount is the same as this year's budget.
Declining revenue from various grant sources as well as fines and parking, however, will create a $49,000 income shortfall, and the municipalities of Farrell, Wheatland and West Middlesex will have to make up that loss, he said.
Farrell's contribution will rise from $799,124 to $839,900, Wheatland's contribution will rise from $83,335 to $87,500 and West Middlesex's contribution will rise from $89,947 to $94,400.
The budget is contingent upon the Fraternal Order of Police approving a change in health-care insurance carriers that will save the commission about $24,000 a year, DeCapua said.
Status restored
The commission was forced to reduce two full-time officers to part-time status in the 2002 budget. DeCapua said the 2003 spending plan restores one of those officers to full-time status.
The number of sergeants will be reduced from four to three as Sgt. Riley Smoot has been promoted to fill the vacant police chief's post. The department has four corporals now but that will increase to four in the new budget.
The budget also funds one detective, five full-time patrolman and seven part-time patrolman positions.
The commission voted to fill a part-time vacancy to bring the total to seven, naming Dan J. Sindlinger of Grove City to the $10-per- hour position. He already works part time for the Hempfield Township Police Department.
The commission also voted to restore the $50-per-month stipend for each of its seven members.
Commission members gave up that money this year to help balance the 2002 budget.
Tuesday's vote was 5-1 with Helen Richardson of West Middlesex opposed and George Keryan of Wheatland absent. William Morocco and Robert Burich of Farrell, Thomas Stanton of Wheatland, David George of West Middlexex and DeCapua voted to restore the stipend.