CLEARFIELD- Earlier this month, the Clearfield Regional Police Department received the monthly payment from Clearfield Borough, totaling just under $89,000. That payment was the final one slated for the 2025 calendar year, and there was still two months remaining until a new year began. A motion to approve funding to the police at last week’s council meeting never came, and it left many wondering what was next for the police department.
A special council meeting was called, and with multiple officers in the building, along with representatives of the police commission, plus the all supervisors for Lawrence Township, in the hopes of finding some way to fund the department, at least through the remaining two months, before the budget for 2026 was to be discussed.
Wednesday night, council approved to fund the police department for the remainder of the 2025 calendar year, doing so at a cost to the citizens as a tax increase would be imminent to help cover the financing. The 6-2 vote to fund the police department in the amount of $250,000.
The hope of financing the department has been a major topic as the year progressed, and the angst in the eyes of resident Christy Fulton is that it felt that Lawrence Township was getting a better deal, to the point where the borough was being forgotten.
“In 2023, the budget for the police department since the merger was $1.3 million, in 2024 it was $1.2 million, and in 2025 it is again, 1.2 million. Since the merger, the budget for the police department has gone up $465,000 for the borough, while only $300,000 for the township,” she said. “Right now, with what you are proposing, it is a potential $8 million tax increase over the next several years for the borough.
“I think Lawrence Township is getting a better deal. That is resulting in a tax increase for the borough, while the township gets more favoritism.”
Rick Mattern echoed the statement, questioning how the contract with the police commission and the budget were finalized with different amounts was beyond constraints, feeling that it is the borough that should finalize their budget first before the commission. His suggestion to council was, “More solutions, and less threats,” suggesting having an arbitrator mediate between the commission, township, and borough.
Lawrence Township Supervisor, Jeremy Ruffner, who also is on the police commission, reiterated his point from the previous night at the township meeting that, “The reason for the merger was to provide a more productive, and safer, police department. Having two smaller area police departments was not bringing in new officers, and I know it’s hard to find new ones even now.
“But, I was already saying this back in March, that later this year the borough will run out of money to pay their police. I predicted it would be August, but we made it to October.”
Multiple officers spoke of the frustration, and uncertainty, as Chief Vincent McGinnis looked on from his seat at council, as Sergeant Dan Podliski noted that when the prior year ended, 24 officers were on payroll. This year, that number is down to 22, including McGinnis, and 21 of the officers were active, with only one sidelined due to workers compensation. Officer Shawn Fye wanted to have more cooperation between council and the commission, while Sergeant John Walker pleaded to not have the “Us vs. Them” mentality where it’s what the borough wants against what the police want.
Borough manager, Julie Brooks, reviewed the budget from both the commission and the borough, and noted that the police budget for the year of $1.25 million was only approved by the commission, not the borough.
“The budget from the police department was passed before the borough. What should have happened was the borough should first approve their budget, and upon review, then the regional police department,” Brooks said. “I suggest going forward, the police commission have their budget sent to the borough for review, whether it is sent from the finance office or chief. Also, having an outside arbitrator for all budget negotiations beginning next year.”
Unfortunately, Brooks noted that the borough has no reserves available, and said that the requested $250,000 needed for the remainder of 2025 would need financed. Originally, the motion was to have the budget amended to include $215,000, but was increased to the requested amount. Borough vice president, Dennis Biancuzzo, asked why the difference in what was first asked and now, and was told namely it was because of overtime and payroll, especially with recent incidents in the area, including the standoff on Turnpike Avenue.
Other council members were appreciative of what the of what the police have done, and continue to do. Bill Armstrong recognized the challenges with the finances of the borough, while also understanding the cost of what was budgeted a year ago has gone up. George DeHaven acknowledged the officers are overwhelmed and working harder than ever. Tristan Buck, although not wanting to see the commission dissolved, said there was no clear plan to repay a potential loan since the numbers for the borough budget were already thin, especially since some areas within the budget were still underfunded.
Currently, as new council member, Bruce Fair, stated, the borough budget sees nearly half go to the police department. As it stands, unofficially, the budget for the police in 2026 will increase to 57 percent. To him, he wants to see an amiable resolution, as “No one wants to see the police department defunded, or reduced to part time.”
When it came time to vote, the figure given was the requested $250,000 from the department, in the form of a tax anticipation loan, which if approved would have a 10-day inspection period by solicitor, Patrick Lavelle, and council before disbursement. According to Brooks, payments would begin in November, and the loan would only be for the remainder of this year, as there would be a need to discuss the 2026 budget.
President Pro-Tem, Ann Jane Ross, agreed in that there needed to be more transparency between the police commission and council, along with the need for arbitration, before calling for a vote, which would be done via roll call.
Fair, DeHaven, Buck, Ross, Armstrong, and Larry Mack vote for the funding. Biancuzzo and Barb Shaffner voted against the motion, stating afterwards that they were not in favor due to to the tax increase to the residents.
Council will be back in session on November 6 for the committee meeting, beginning at 5 p.m.
