The Budget hearings continue in Harrisburg, and yesterday, the focus of the state house budget hearings was on the state police.
While some of the topics included the state-wide radio system proposal, turnaround times on rape kit testing, and illegal gaming machines, the main focus is on a proposal made by Governor Tom Wolf that would put a $25-per-capita fee on local municipalities that rely solely on the state police for law enforcement.
While some have supported the idea of the per-capita fee, others like Republican Stan Saylor out of York County, said that there would be no way the fee would pass. He said that he contacted the governor and said the fee would be “dead on arrival” when it reaches the state house.
The fee would be a major financial impact in White Township. The township has been ranked in the state’s top-30 highest median income communities without a local police presence. If the $25 per capita fee was applied to the township’s population of 15,821 according to the 2010 census, it would mean White Township would owe the state police over $395,000. White Township Supervisor George Lenz said that it would be an immediate jump in property taxes for Township residents of five mills, estimating that 1 mil is roughly $100,000, and would have a very devastating effect for some in the township.
State Police leaders say the fee is a proposal from the administration and they had no direct input on the plan.
