York budget proposal calls for cutting police force in half
Photo by Wikkmedia Commons/GrapedApe
(York) — The city of York has unveiled a proposed $42 million budget to join the list of Pennsylvania cities considering startling changes to make ends meet in 2015.
It’s budget plan calls for cutting the city police force in half.
“Public safety is absolutely going to be affected – and it’s not a good thing, ” York City Council President Carol Hill-Evans said, while responding to questions about the public safety risk posed by about the 2015 budget introduced Tuesday night.
The document details plans for making up a $7 million shortfall, including cutting more than 80 city jobs.
Fifty-four are public safety positions, including 46 police officers.
City council hopes the new police union contract under negotiation will minimize layoffs.
But, Councilman Henry Nixon says not banking on concessions.
“I am very hopeful, but that has not been in evidence in the past,” he said.
York’s also planning increase earned-income taxes, or EIT, 25 percent to help offset the $2.5 million increase in pension costs facing the city next year.
Property owners are, however, escaping the fates of those in, for example, in Scranton where there’s a three-fold real estate tax on the table, or Lebanon, facing a 28 percent hike.
York’s property taxes are staying flat — at least for now.
Keystone Crossroads is a statewide initiative, reporting on the challenges facing Pennsylvania’s cities.WITF is part of the collaboration with three other public media organizations.
*This story has been revised from its original version to reflect cuts in public safety positions. 11/20/14
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