Wormleysburg officials are evaluating the financial burden of policing costs, with their share of the $2.57 million West Shore Regional Police budget surpassing the borough’s property tax revenue from last year. In a small borough that recently implemented a 35% property tax hike, some residents believe Pennsylvania State Police coverage could be a more cost-effective solution. “We’re spending a fortune for the one up there. We used our own police department here in Wormleysburg strictly when we were. That ended a while ago,” said Frank Earl Sparrow. The borough council stated that it remains fully supportive of West Shore Regional Police but emphasized its responsibility to keep taxes affordable for residents.If the borough opts out of West Shore Regional Police, Pennsylvania State Police could take over calls for service. “We’re currently covering 1,728 municipalities full or part-time,” said Lt. Col. George Bivens of Pennsylvania State Police during a budget hearing earlier this year.Bivens told lawmakers earlier this year that Pennsylvania State Police are increasingly providing partial coverage, such as weekends, for local agencies. “That’s really been the big impact over the last year,” Bivens said. State Rep. Justin Fleming addressed the financial implications of relying on Pennsylvania State Police, proposing legislation to charge municipalities a fee for their coverage. “The way my proposal works out is, it is based on the size of your municipality. So smaller municipalities will pay less. Larger municipalities will pay more,” Fleming said.

CUMBERLAND COUNTY, Pa. —

Wormleysburg officials are evaluating the financial burden of policing costs, with their share of the $2.57 million West Shore Regional Police budget surpassing the borough’s property tax revenue from last year.

In a small borough that recently implemented a 35% property tax hike, some residents believe Pennsylvania State Police coverage could be a more cost-effective solution.

“We’re spending a fortune for the one up there. We used our own police department here in Wormleysburg strictly when we were. That ended a while ago,” said Frank Earl Sparrow.

The borough council stated that it remains fully supportive of West Shore Regional Police but emphasized its responsibility to keep taxes affordable for residents.

If the borough opts out of West Shore Regional Police, Pennsylvania State Police could take over calls for service.

“We’re currently covering 1,728 municipalities full or part-time,” said Lt. Col. George Bivens of Pennsylvania State Police during a budget hearing earlier this year.

Bivens told lawmakers earlier this year that Pennsylvania State Police are increasingly providing partial coverage, such as weekends, for local agencies.

“That’s really been the big impact over the last year,” Bivens said.

State Rep. Justin Fleming addressed the financial implications of relying on Pennsylvania State Police, proposing legislation to charge municipalities a fee for their coverage.

“The way my proposal works out is, it is based on the size of your municipality. So smaller municipalities will pay less. Larger municipalities will pay more,” Fleming said.