State Representative Looking For Tax on Policeless Communities

Communities who have disbanded their police forces and now rely on the state police to patrol their neighborhoods may soon face a $100 per person tax to support the state police. State Representative John Pallone of Westmoreland County has introduced a bill that would require any community of over 10,000 people who rely on the State Police for law enforcement to pay a $100 per resident tax. Pallone said that the increase in communities disbanding their police forces in favor of State Police patrol has stretched the resources of the State Police. He says either a community of over 10,000 people can create their own police force, create a regional police force with neighboring communities or contribute the tax to aid the State Police in their patrolling efforts. As currently written the legislation, if passed, would affect 21 communities and bring in $35-$40 million in revenues. Pallone has introduced similar legislation in the past and is remaining cautiously optimistic that it will pass this year because of the Governor's stated concerns over public safety.