Time for towns to pay for state police coverage

Mike Sturla is upping the ante on Gov. Mike Wolf.

You might remember that a few weeks ago the governor first broached the idea of slapping a fee on towns that rely on state police instead of setting up their own local police force.

In short, a lot of people think these towns - such as Concord, Edgmont and Middletown here in Delaware County - are getting a free ride. Wolf said he would like to see a fee of $25 per person place on those towns that want to use the state police. Sturla rolled out a bill that would increase that to $110 per person over a 10-year period.

They're both right.

It's time for these towns to pay their fair share. The argument that they are already paying state taxes for these services doesn't hold water. So is everyone else.

We make the case for the fee on today's editorial page.