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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. John Pallone State
Rep. Bill Kortz |
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Pallone, Kortz call for fairness in state police protection
HARRISBURG, March 17 – At a news conference in Harrisburg today, state Reps. John Pallone, D-Westmoreland/Armstrong, and Bill Kortz, D-Allegheny, discussed legislation (H.B. 747) they have introduced that would impose a $100 per resident assessment on municipalities with populations of more than 10,000 that do not have local police service and rely solely on the Pennsylvania State Police for protection.
The fee would help cover the cost of having state police provide law enforcement services. Pallone said there are about 21 such communities across the state.
"In these tough economic times, all communities, large and small, are struggling to make ends meet. In his budget address, Governor Rendell suggested we look at imposing fees on municipalities relying on state police for local police protection. Clearly this is an idea whose time has come," Pallone said.
Pallone and Kortz said the bill would generate about $40 million, which could be used to hire 4,000 additional state troopers, increasing public safety for all Pennsylvania residents.
"This bill would end the free ride for these larger municipalities that certainly have the ability to support their own police force, or join a regional one, but instead use the services of state police at no extra cost to them," Kortz said. "They are not paying their fair share while other communities find a way to support their own police forces."
House Bill 747 has more than two dozen bipartisan co-sponsors and is currently being considered in the House Local Government Committee.
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A list of larger municipalities in Pennsylvania utilizing state police for law enforcement services is below.
Attention Radio News Directors: an actuality from Rep. Pallone is available by calling 1-800-452-3001. Enter PA54 (7-2-5-4) and the pound sign (#) at the menu prompt to get today’s sound. You can also download the sound in .mp3 format by visiting www.pahouse.com/mediacenter.
Attention Radio News Directors: an actuality from Rep. Kortz is available by calling 1-800-452-3001. Enter PA38 (7-2-3-8) and the pound sign (#) at the menu prompt to get today’s sound. You can also download the sound in .mp3 format by visiting www.pahouse.com/mediacenter.
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Information sheet on House Bill 747 (State Police assessment fee)
Larger communities using state police for police protection as of 2002 census |
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County Name |
Municipality Name |
2000 Census Population |
Land Area Sq. Miles |
Police Service Type |
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Chester |
West Bradford Twp. |
10775 |
18.6 |
State Police |
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Cumberland |
South Middleton Twp. |
12939 |
49.5 |
State Police |
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Delaware |
Middletown Twp. |
16064 |
13.5 |
State Police |
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Erie |
Harborcreek Twp. |
15178 |
34.2 |
State Police |
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Erie |
Fairview Twp. |
10140 |
29.2 |
State Police |
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Fayette |
North Union Twp. |
14140 |
38.7 |
State Police |
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Fayette |
South Union Twp. |
11337 |
16.7 |
State Police |
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Franklin |
Guilford Twp. |
13100 |
52.5 |
State Police |
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Franklin |
Antrim Twp. |
12504 |
70.1 |
State Police |
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Franklin |
Greene Twp. |
12284 |
56.7 |
State Police |
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Indiana |
White Twp. |
14034 |
42.6 |
State Police |
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Lancaster |
Salisbury Twp. |
10012 |
41.9 |
State Police |
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Lehigh |
Lower Macungie Twp. |
19220 |
22.6 |
State Police |
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Lehigh |
North Whitehall Twp. |
14731 |
28.7 |
State Police |
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Lycoming |
Loyalsock Twp. |
10876 |
21 |
State Police |
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Monroe |
Chestnuthill Twp. |
14418 |
37.3 |
State Police |
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Monroe |
Middle Smithfield Twp. |
11495 |
53.1 |
State Police |
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Westmoreland |
Hempfield Twp. |
40721 |
76.6 |
State Police |
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Westmoreland |
Unity Twp. |
21137 |
67 |
State Police |
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Westmoreland |
Derry Twp. |
14726 |
94.5 |
State Police |
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Westmoreland |
Mt. Pleasant Twp. |
11153 |
55.7 |
State Police |
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310,984 |
965.6 |
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