Kidder Township passes 2018 budget with tax increase, police force decrease

Kidder Township residents will see a tax increase this coming year as taxes go from 5.65 mills to 6.95 mills.

The bulk of the increase is in a revision to the Emergency Services Tax fund, with an increase of $210,000 over the 2017 budget.

A large portion of the money going into the Emergency Services Tax fund is coming from the public safety line items in the police department budget.

The budget for the department is being cut by approximately $80,000.

The supervisors adopted the 2018 budget, and shortly thereafter, supervisor and police Chairman Thomas Lafond made a motion to furlough a police officer. The motion passed unanimously.

“It all comes down to budget,” Chairman Thomas Bradley Jr. said.

“This is something that we had to do. If we see during the course of the year that it isn’t working, we will have to make an adjustment at that time.”

Local business owner Kelly Hollman pointed out that businesses in the area rely on the police to keep an eye on things when the owners aren’t there.

“When we were robbed, these guys were there to help,” Holman said.

“We really appreciate the Kidder Township police.”

Holman’s father, John McElroy, the owner of Harmony Beverage, said that being located out on Route 940, they sometimes feel like they are on an island because of being so far from Lake Harmony.

“We need a strong police presence, not one made up of part-time officers who are looking for a better job,” McElroy said. “We need full-time officers to make a strong force.”

The supervisors approved the hiring of Joseph David as a part-time patrolman at $18 per hour.

Officer Michael Chica has the least seniority in the department and will be the officer furloughed as of Dec. 31.

“Chica has been an asset to the team,” Chief Matthew Kuzma said. “He is responsible for a good number of DUI arrests and for getting pounds of drugs off the street.”

“We are going along with what the chief said he could work with,” said Lafond. “He is the professional, we have to rely on his judgment.”

“I have no choice but to make this work,” said Kuzma. “It is what it is and we have to make it work.”

Lafond also made a comment during the meeting that he would like to see the police officers “step up community policing.” He described it as being more visible in the parts of the township where excessive partying and underage drinking is taking place.

During the course of the meeting the supervisors also agreed to extend the township manager’s contract for two years and the police chief of one year. The township manager will receive a salary of $60,900 and the police chief will receive a salary of $72,633 for 2018.