BUSTI – Residents in Busti may have an opportunity to decide whether or not they want to continue with having the local police department provide services in the town, outside of the village of Lakewood. According to an article in today’s Jamestown Post-Journal, Busti officials may ask town residents through a November referendum if they would be willing to pay more for police services.
The town is currently working out a contract with the village regarding police services. However, it has been learned the village would like to see the town pay for 37 percent of the annual police department budget, since about 37 percent of the calls come from the area of the town outside of the village.
This year the town is paying $360,000 to the village for police services – which is about 28 percent of the police budget. budget. If the town were to pay 37 percent of the share, the cost would go up by $120,000.
As a result, Busti town officials are discussing whether or not it would be best to let the residents decide if they want to continue paying for police services from the village police department.
Busti Down Supervisor Jesse Robbins says they are still discussing the idea of a public vote and no decision has been made yet.
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