Fire And Police Consolidation Process Moves Forward With Suburbs To Bear Tax Burden For City Government

Pennsylvania's medium sized cities are facing financial problems with two nearby cities (Reading and Harrisburg) moving into distressed status under the Act 47 law.

In recent years, York City officials have acknowledged the city's long term financial picture isn't good and that the city's major costs are for police and fire protection.

Meanwhile, the York Counts-Metro York group has been pushing for a consolidated government involving York City and the suburbs. 

After these groups formed up to agitate for consolidation, the Springettsbury Township supervisors and Spring Garden Township commissioners acted to form the York Area United Fire and Rescue organization abolishing their local fire services.'

Last year, York Area United took over managment of Manchester Township's fire service and now talks are underway to merge Manchester Township into York Area United.

A fire safety study done for York City last year recommended  that York City's fire department merge with York Area United next year (2012).

Recently, North York Borough appointed York City fire chief Steve Buffington as its fire chief.

When one adds all this up, its obvious that a consolidation process is underway that will have one metropolitan fire department in place within a few years.

Taxpayers in the suburbs will be paying to support the costs of fire service in York City under the banner of York Area United Fire and Rescue.

A police consolidation study pushed by the York Counts-Metro York group is moving forward but it needed a funding boost from York City Council.

When suburban communities like Springettsbury Township signed onto it, they didn't want to put up any money.      The Greater York Chamber of Commerce Foundation put up five thousand dollars to help with the cost.

Supporters claim police regionalization is needed because "crime is everywhere" and "it will save money."

But the facts as we know them without a study are that the suburbs have more people and fewer police officers, plus a crime rate that's dwarfed by that of the city.

Consolidation involving the more populous suburbs would end up having their taxpayers subsidizing the city's more costlier police protection with higher taxes.

I can believe the argument about saving money "saving money" as in saving money for the City of York at the expense of suburban taxpayers.

The fire and police consolidation schemes should be a prime topic in municipal elections coming up this year in York's suburban communities.