The Borough of Jenkintown is contemplating disbanding its police force and contracting out the services to its neighbors, such as Abington or Cheltenham, writes Kenny Cooper for WHYY.

“The growth in the cost of policing is outpacing the growth in the rest of the borough to try to grow with it,” said Mayor Gabriel Lerman. “We realize that that is not sustainable, and something has to change.”

The law enforcement at the half-square-mile borough employs around a dozen staff members.

Jenkintown’s budget for 2024 is a little over $5 million. The borough’s residents currently pay the sixth-highest municipal taxes as well as the second-highest school taxes in the county. More than half of the budget is dedicated to policing.

While the borough is not at the risk of shutting off lights, said Lerman, officials should look for ways to improve spending as stewards of taxpayers.

Council President Jay Conners agreed that officials need to find a way to not “tax the hell” out of residents.

“We honestly believe that we would be getting more services and better services because neighboring police departments have a lot more to offer than what we currently have,” said Conners.

Read more about why Jenkintown is considering disbanding its police force in WHYY.

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