Farrell officials want answers on budget

FARRELL, Pa. -- The city's representatives on the Southwest Mercer County Regional Police Commission want to review the agency's 2004 budget before Farrell allocates additional money to fund the department.
As it stands now, the police budget asks for $9,252 more from the city than Farrell allocated in its own proposed 2004 budget.
The commission serves Farrell, Wheatland and West Middlesex with Farrell picking up 82 percent of the department's budget.
City Manager LaVon Saternow said that she put a 4 percent increase for police services in the city's proposed budget but that Southwest Regional is asking for 5 percent. The difference is $9,252, she said.
City council held a budget hearing Monday to review the city's proposed $2,188,582 spending plan, and the amount of money sought by Southwest Regional was a focal point of discussion.
The police agency is asking Farrell for a total of $881,895 for 2004.
Mayor William Morocco and Councilman Robert Burich, both members of the police commission, voted for the agency's budget earlier this month but have since come up with some questions about the spending plan.
They want to re-examine that document at the commission's December meeting.
"The thing definitely needs some chewin' on again," Morocco said.