TimesLeader.com

Ransom Twp. asks residents to contest bill

Mauri Rapp Abington Journal Correspondent

RANSOM TWP. – Ransom Township board of supervisors urges residents to contact their state representative and ask him to oppose a house bill that would impose a fee on municipalities for the patrol services provided by state police.

At a Ransom Twp. meeting on Oct. 5, Chairman Joe Esposito introduced residents to the proposed legislation and asked that they contact State Rep. Jim Wansacz and ask him to oppose the bill. Esposito repeated his plea at this month’s meeting on Nov. 5. The proposed bill, known as HB 1500, would require any municipality that relies only on the Pennsylvania State Police for patrol services to pay an annual per capita fee for those services. The bill would also impose a fee on municipalities that rely on partial patrol services from the state police.

According the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors, townships that do not pay the fees would lose any Commonwealth funding, including liquid fuels funds, and would also lose state police patrol services. Ransom Twp. Secretary/Treasurer Kathy Zielinski said that, if passed, the bill could end up costing the township more than $24,000 during its first year, more than $48,000 during its second year, and more than $74,000 each subsequent year. Zielinski added that these figures were based on 2000 population census totals and that the fees could be higher if the township sees a rise in population based on the 2010 census. Ransom currently contracts with the South Abington Township Police Department for partial coverage. Esposito told residents that the township would not see an increase in patrol services from the state police as a result of the bill. “That’s the worst part about it,” he said. “It’s going to come out of our pockets but we’re not getting anything for it.”