SHARON, PA. Police force to grow by two without tax increase

SHARON, Pa. -- City officials think they have come up with a way to add two police officers to its complement without raising taxes.
Two council members, Fred Hoffman and Raymond Fabian, said last week they were willing to approve a 1-mill property tax increase, if needed, to increase the police complement from 30 to 32 in the 2004 budget.
They got the complement increase without any tax increase when lawmakers ratified the $8.48 million general fund budget Thursday.
Just how soon additional officers may be hired is uncertain, however.
If Sharon has a mild winter, it could be as soon as March or April, Mayor David O. Ryan said.
He told council that, based on the severity of last winter, he put an additional $40,000 into snow removal costs in the 2004 budget.
If that money isn't needed, the city could bring an additional officer on as early as March, he said.
The city also needs to fill a street department vacancy, and that could happen about the same time, the mayor added.
As for the second police officer, Ryan said the city will have to look at the rest of its finances to determine when that additional slot can be filled. Hoffman had a couple of suggestions. The city could not fill the street department vacancy and use that money to bring on a second officer, he said.
Hoffman also questioned Finance Director Michael Gasparich's estimate that the city will collect only 87.4 percent of its billed real estate taxes.
A check of city records shows Sharon has traditionally brought in 90 percent of the taxes due, he said. That 2.6 percent difference should be enough to hire the police officers, Hoffman said.
Sharon shows an anticipated $4.52 million in real estate receipts based on a 42.5-mill assessment in the 2004 budget at the 87.4 percent collection rate. An additional 2.6 percent would be more than $100,000.
Gasparich said he believes his estimate of 87.4 percent will be more accurate for 2004. He is reluctant to estimate a higher figure that could turn out to be wrong.
Ryan suggested setting the police complement at 32 but not funding it directly at this point on the premise that the city may be able to come up with sufficient funds in March or April to add the additional officers. Council agreed to the offer.
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