County Police Consolidation Hitting Wall?
Report says plan approval is unlikely, as support seems to be hard to come by.
With a month left for the 21 municipalities in Somerset County to weigh in with their thoughts on a proposed police merger, it appears as though the support may not be there in the end to make it happen.
Officials in two of the towns reportedly have already said the plan to fold 19 departments into one isn't for them. Both Bedminster and Peapack-Gladstone have decided to turn away from the proposal.
A feasibility study released in April showed that a consolidated police department would save county taxpayers $44 million over the next 10 years. Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli (R- 16th District) said that number may be a "conservative" figure. Ciattarelli sparked the consolidation study during his term as freeholder. The savings could range up to $100 million over the next decade, he said.
The pair of municipalities mentioned above aren't the only detractors from the proposed consolidation.
Watchung residents made a point to speak out against the merger last month, saying the $94 per year savings to residents by 2023 calculated by Watchung CFO Bill Hance wasn't enough to make it worth it. The Green Brook PBA also recently came out publicly against the merger, and Bernards Township Committeeman John Carpenter said his own initial impression is that his township would gain little from the arrangement.
However, there is at least one municipality reportedly on board. Bound Brook Mayor Carey Pilatois has said there is support for the plan, hoping to see it climb the decision-making ladder.
So what do you think? Do you believe the ends will not justify the means when it comes to consolidation? Or do you think the plan is one the county should implement? Vote in our poll below.
Kelly
2:31 pm on Monday, July 2, 2012
I'd rather pay my $100 in taxes and keep my police in my town, where they can get to me quickly if I need them.
Bill
2:58 pm on Monday, July 2, 2012
You won't even save $100 Kelly. In Bridgewater, the average resident pays only $278 per year taxes for police and dispatchers. Thats like .77 cents a day! THATS ALL!!!! So how much would you save?
Kelly
6:01 pm on Monday, July 2, 2012
I was just going by their numbers ($44M) divided by the number of people in Somerset Co., but you are right, the number I got was 1.) not accurate because not every single person pays property taxes, and 2.) certainly not at the same rate. It would be more accurate to divide by the number of households, which would bump the amount up to $380 saved over ten years per household ($38/year).
If you are correct and the amount saved is less than $100 (I don't have my tax bill in front of me), it's even more reason why I'd rather pay my $10 a year and keep my township police intact. I think that too often people look at these big numbers in regards to taxes and fail to do the math to figure out how much it really is costing them personally.
Bill
2:26 pm on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Kelly, Thats why i said the AVERAGE resident. Some pay nothing.....some pay $30k a year in property taxes.
Kelly
2:57 pm on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Bill, How did you figure out how much goes to police? My tax bill does not have a line item for that.
Bill
4:06 pm on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
It was done during a audit. You could probably OPRA request it.
PatchFan
3:24 pm on Monday, July 2, 2012
Of course the PBA is not on board. A consolidation means fewer promotions.
Curt Carnes
4:54 pm on Monday, July 2, 2012
The real question is --- How much taxpayers money was spent putting this plan together, and who benefited from it? Won't it have been wiser to see if there was actual support for this consultation before spending the money.
jerseyjim
7:49 pm on Monday, July 2, 2012
Actually patchfan, for greenbrrk, they would be going from a 20 man agency to 600 man agency. I would assume that there would be a big increase in promotional opportunites for them. Maybe the PBA opposes it simply because the plan is a bad idea.
warren res1
7:40 am on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
The fewer police the better. Don't forget it's not just paying for the police who are working. You're also paying for those who are retired!! And whilst I am sure the police to a great job of guiding traffic when the utility companies are working by the roadside, and tracking down bears, or dealing with the 'dangerous criminal motorists" they seem to stop at the end of the month - there are / is very little crime in most of the areas. Petty theft investigations mainly and the odd disturbance of the peace...... really we don't need such large police forces / teams in each of our little townships. NJ has more police than anywhere in the country and I think a consolidation is an excellent idea. The savings whilst per community might seem negligible - they will add up over time and the twp's will be able to use this for other worthwhile programs for the community and who doesn't like paying less tax?!!
Ridge
12:38 pm on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Crime is low in Somerset County NJ, BECAUSE we have a heavy concentration of fine police officers. Decrease our coverage and you will see our crime rates go up. This study has not factored in all the costs of converting departments to a common systems (uniforms, radios, weapons, vehicles would all have to be converted to a universal, common system for the county). You won't save a dime.
Bill
2:24 pm on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
warren res 1,
Are you kidding me? The AVERAGE Bridgewater resident pay .77 cents a day for police and dispacthers! Where is the savings when you make it a county force?
F U PatchFan
8:55 am on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
I guess u feel our military is to big too warren res.
Tricia
6:24 pm on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
As usual fear will overcome actual benefits to the public. A joined force will mean more officers in the community as management tasks are combined freeing officers to be driving and walking the communities. Getting back to towns being able to afford the extra officer in the High Schools is something I want to see again, a big benefit to reducing teen issues like drugs, crime, and suicides. Joint force would mean better coverage for all because the resources will be in place to get the closest officer to you in an emergency, independent of municipal boundaries. It is the 21st century where GPS location can be utilized efficiently and effectively. This is a wonderful idea for many reasons aside from cost savings.