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Open hershksingh opened 4 years ago
mahrer
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chrisabruzzo@derrytownship.org natalienutt@derrytownship.org susancort@derrytownship.org carterwyckoff@derrytownship.org rickzmuda@derrytownship.org cchristman@derrytownship.org lbzumbrun@derrytownship.org mcsirkot@derrytownship.org marisaweldon@derrytownship.org
Dear Supervisors and Administration of Derry Township,
My name is {...} and I am a resident of Derry Township and am writing to demand that the Derry Township Police Department be defunded and the funds are reallocated into more crucial and positive resources in our community.
In 2020, Derry Township’s total budget was $18 million, in which $7.5 million was issued to our police department which consists of only forty-seven full-time police officers and sixteen part-time police officers. In 2020, the board stated that the increase in police funding was due to actual cost, prior experience and contractual agreements, all reasons which do not explain the constant increase of almost a million dollars in the department budget all while the crime rate in Derry Township has been consistently 62 percent less than the national average.
In 2016, the cost of safety supplies was only $561 and almost four years later the budget has allocated $19,000. Derry Township. Our budget has also seen a consistent rise in wages of clerical and officer units of our department and an even massive jump in allotment of workers' compensation and insurance for officers while Derry Township has never had a violent interaction with a police officer since its establishment.
Our Community Development sector’s budget only has a budget of $800,000 and unfortunately, most of the budget is resourced to take care of wages and planning consultants, while less than $14,000 goes into supplies. Derry Township’s Public Work’s budget is $2.7 million in which $1.8 million (66%) is used to pay the 23 personnel working in the department and $227,000 is used for supplies. Finally, our Parks and Recreation Department is allocated $1.4 million, and $690,000 is used to pay the eight full time and sixty-four part-time workers while supplies that go into recreation, child care, and aquatics are given the leftovers.
I demand that money that is being siphoned into the police department be given towards departments that serve our community directly to increase its size of personnel and budget for supplies. Police reform does not only mean improving techniques and more training; Derry Township’s police department is being over-allocated unnecessary funds that fail to address concerns in our community. Instead of being bogged down in clerical and administrative costs, more money for supplies for these departments will allow for enhancement in the quality of life for the residents of our community, all while not compromising safety. Improving the quality of life and giving families and individuals a better environment to grow in will mean that residents will have a better prospect in life and a more positive contribution back towards the community.
Sincerely, [YOUR NAME] [YOUR ADDRESS] [YOUR EMAIL] [YOUR PHONE NUMBER]
Derry Township Budget:
https://www.derrytownship.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/2019BudgetDraft.pdf