As Forks Chairman Chuss Runs for Re-election, He Denies the Tax Increase He Will Support in 2014

In an average year Forks police officers respond to over 9,000 calls.  Forks Township Police rate among the top accredited departments in all Pennsylvania thanks to the outstanding leadership of Chief Greg Dorney.  But despite such high standards, neither Dorney nor his officers are miracle workers.

Under recent budgets orchestrated by Chairman Chuss, Forks Police have borne the brunt of Township budget cuts.  While Chairman Chuss supported giving Palmer Township $13,000 Forks tax dollars for a regional ball field and $80,000 to build a skate park for a handful of Township kids and all of Easton's skate-boarders, money to replace run down police vehicles is not to be found.

Chief Dorney has withheld replacing police cars over the last three budget cycles, which, consequently, results in increased maintenance costs.  Needed repairs done at local garages cost more to keep old police vehicles on the road. 

Chief Dorney’s reputation as a leader in responsible fiscal management is well known.  He’s saved Forks Township thousands by obtaining grant funding for much needed equipment required by officers.  In fact, depending how you count, the Forks Police Department at present is down four to five officers and will soon need to retire their drug/bomb sniffing police dog.  The staffing shortfall may have saved considerable salary and benefit costs for Chairman Chuss this year, but causes the Department to incur substantial overtime costs.

Chairman Chuss’s bungling of protracted police union contract negotiations has triggered even more expenditures for a stalled arbitration process.  This has been a morale buster since police salaries are based on rates Supervisors established six years ago in 2006. 

The Forks Police Department’s valuable community programs are jeopardized by the Board’s shortsighted budget gimmicks so that Chairman Chuss can avoid any tax increase this year when he is running for re-election.  Meanwhile the Police Department has given more than their fair share to save Chairman Chuss’s budgets. 

When our officers crack down on an illegal meth lab, or solve a string of robberies, or fine overweight 18-wheelers wrecking our roads, accolades abound.  But providing proper training, equipment and staffing, costs money.  Good policing is a matter of public safety.  Putting Community First and not playing games with police funding because you’re running for re-election, is the better path for Chairman Chuss to choose. 

Lilly Gioia and C. David Howell, Editors

Community First Blog