Governor Tom Wolf’s budget proposal yesterday included steep fees imposed on municipalities across the Commonwealth which do not have local police forces. Unlike the earliest proposals for State Police protection fees, which would collect the fees only from the largest townships and boroughs, Wolf in recent years has asked for legislation imposing the fees on all municipalities, large and small.
A PennLive.com online calculator breaks down the numbers by county and municipality, and it shows that Indiana County’s townships and boroughs would be expected to send Harrisburg almost $3 million for State Police protection.
White Township would pay the most, more than $2 million. It’s followed by Center Township, which would have to pay more than $152,000; Burrell Township, which would have to come up with more than $140,000; and Green Township, at $92,500.
Wolf asked for a flat fee from all municipalities when he first proposed it in 2017. This time, he is urging lawmakers to impose fees of $8 per resident for municipalities of less than 2,000 people, with gradual population-based fees increasing topping out at $166 per resident for those with more than 20,000 people.
Don’t expect the proposal to go anywhere with a Republican-controlled legislature aligned against it.
Here are the fees Indiana County municipalities would have to pay for State Police protection if Governor Wolf’s proposal passes:
Armagh Borough $952.00
Armstrong Township $49,555.00
Banks Township $7,840.00
Black Lick Township $9,576.00
Brush Valley Township $14,408.00
Buffington Township $10,376.00
Burrell Township $140,217.00
Canoe Township $11,656.00
Center Township $152,163.00
Cherryhill Township $45,866.00
Conemaugh Township $37,791.00
Creekside Borough $2,408.00
East Mahoning Twp. $8,328.00
East Wheatfield Twp. $38,930.00
Ernest Borough $3,600.00
Glen Campbell Borough $1,904.00
Grant Township $5,720.00
Green Township $92,500.00
Marion Center Borough $3,440.00
Montgomery Township $12,120.00
Smicksburg Borough $360.00
South Mahoning Twp. $14,200.00
Washington Twp. $13,944.00
West Mahoning Twp. $10,512.00
West Wheatfield Twp. $37,961.00
White Township $2,170,826.00
Young Township $13,680.00
