Town defunds police department to pay utilities
BOSWELL, Pa. -- Faced with a choice of paying its utility bills or two part-time police officers, a tiny western Pennsylvania borough has opted to pay the bills.
Boswell Mayor Sue Sarver tells the (Somerset) Daily American, "You can't not pay your utilities."
The borough about 65 miles southeast of Pittsburgh set aside about $21,000 a year out of its $240,000 annual budget for the officers. The borough has about 1,200 residents.
But Sarver says utility costs associated with moving into a new borough building in August 2014 have put a strain on the budget.
By defunding its police, the borough is relying on state police for coverage.
Sarver is hoping to resolve the borough's fiscal situation in time to again fund the police in March.