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Journal Opinion
A Bargain at One-Tenth the PriceIn 2004, Poland Township budgeted $1.14 million for its police department. At the other end of Route 224, Canfield Township -- threatened with the loss of safety protection when Mahoning County's half-percent sales tax expired last year -- cut a deal with the sheriff's department to provide road patrols. The cost: $205,000. Now that's power buying. True, Canfield Township is getting only three officers -- one per 8-hour shift to patrol the township, seven days a week under the agreement approved last week by Mahoning County commissioners -- compared to the 14 full-time and four part-time officers staffing Poland's department. The contract allows the county to recall three deputies laid off because of the defeat of the half-percent tax. Sheriff Randall Wellington says his department is open to reaching similar agreements with other townships. Nonetheless, the agreement has stirred some debate -- and resentment -- throughout the county. How is it that Canfield Township, one of the county's most affluent communities -- can get away with that level of protection? Does Canfield need that much less protection than Poland, a similarly affluent township? Why did other county residents subsidize Canfield Township's police protection until now? Other parts of the county left without police protection in the wake of the elimination of the sheriff's road patrols can't afford even the limited service Canfield Township has contacted for. This illustrates the underlying issue raised by the agreement.Is the Canfield trustees' contract with the sheriff's office yet another example of how county residents would benefit from the consolidation of police services? How hundreds of thousands of dollars could be better spent putting patrols on the road instead of paying for the administrative hierarchy of individual departments?Campbell Mayor Jack Dill, whose city was placed in fiscal emergency by the state in June, says he would like to see a regionalized police force. He sees it happening, eventually, along with other departments, such as fire or 911, as state and federal governments impose more mandates on local communities without funding them, and local officials keep returning to same source of funding, their constituents."It works in other areas throughout the country," Dill remarks. "Because of the financial situation of almost every community in the area, it's eventually going to end up where we'll have to get together and have some kind of regionalization." As Mahoning County begins the painful process of setting the 2005 budget -- and commissioners determine whether to pursue a new sales tax -- elected officials throughout the county should speak up on how their constituents could be as well served, if not better served, at less cost. Twenty-first century technology and infrastructure does not require a 19th century administrative organization chart. Who knows? Such officials might find themselves regarded as leaders.Reader Responds to Business Journal Editorial"