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More Police Could Mean Higher Taxes in Hazleton

HAZLETON — The Hazleton police department could soon be growing, but it comes with a price. The mayor said he was approached by friends of the police depa...

HAZLETON -- The Hazleton police department could soon be growing, but it comes with a price.

The mayor said he was approached by friends of the police department who started a petition asking the city to hire 10 more full- time officers. The mayor agreed and added the cost to his proposed budget for 2015.

He said, right now, the department is stretched too thin.

"I know that when they come on a shift, they just get in the vehicle, run out, run in, bring people out, go back out. It's one call after another and it's stressful," said Mayor Joe Yannuzzi.

The extra police would cost tax-payers.

The mayor said in his proposal, property taxes would increase about $90 for the average homeowner in the city.

"It's an insurance policy. Not only is it an insurance policy, but it's an investment in the community," said Yannuzzi.

The mayor said adding the 10 full-time officers would bring the total department full-time staff to 48 officers. He thinks that's a better ratio for the 25,000 people who live in the city of Hazleton.

"This would probably bring us up to standards of two per 1,000. We have 25,000 we should have 50 police officers," said the mayor.

Some people in Hazleton agree with the mayor, saying that more police would mean less crime, even if it comes with a price.

Ron Avellino owns four apartments in the city. He said, "Safer for my tenants and safer for the population in town."

Other residents think Hazleton's current police force just needs to make it work to save the taxpayers money.

"I don't really like it. Normally they take more money out of my paychecks for taxes, now they'll probably take even more out of it," said Jesus Mejia from Hazleton.

The mayor said he will present the proposed budget to city council on November 18.

The council has until the end of the year to pass a budget.

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