From the Northwest Indiana Times:
A property tax increase is the only option Merrillville has to put more police officers on the streets, Clerk-Treasurer Eugene Guernsey said.
But some residents disagreed with Guernsey on Tuesday, suggesting the town could use reserve officers or host a fundraiser to boost the police force. They responded Tuesday at a public forum held to discuss the town's proposal for a property tax referendum.
Police Chief Joseph Petruch said Merrillville can't get enough volunteers to serve as reserve officers. The town's Police Department currently has 48 officers.
Guernsey said he had thought of having fundraisers, but there was no guarantee the town could generate enough funding each year to support a staff increase for the police force.
Guernsey, Town Councilwoman Carol Miano and Town Councilman Don Spann have proposed a referendum to ask Merrillville voters to support a tax increase to hire 10 more police officers.
For an owner of a home assessed at $150,000, property taxes would increase by about $53 a year.
The referendum could be on the ballot in November.
Michael Deppe, an attorney providing free legal services for the referendum, said even if voters approve the proposal, the state's Department of Local Government Finance would have to authorize the increase.
Guernsey said Merrillville doesn't have enough money in its budget to hire more officers because of the levy freeze in Lake County. To improve safety in Merrillville, "we need more police officers," Petruch said.
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http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/merrillville/some-m-ville-residents-urge-town-to-use-means-other/article_5f9f0e87-6576-5d8a-b8b9-9d46fc296473.html
