Group to study borough police costs

MAT-SU -- A task force is being assembled to consider whether the Mat-Su Borough should begin providing police protection for residents and, if so, how much it would cost.

Borough Mayor Tim Anderson said the first step is to create a Blue Ribbon Task Force to review the amount of crime in the borough, develop recommendations on how to reduce crime, and analyze costs of a possible borough law enforcement program.

"It is very clear that many of our residents are interested in increased police protection," Anderson said. "Recent requests from the Butte community and the core area indicate that there is interest in the more populated parts of the borough."

Anderson was to forward a list of names for the task force to the borough assembly to consider at today's meeting. He said the group should include some citizens with experience in police protection.

The task force will be given six to nine months to complete its work. Anderson said he hopes to have recommendations in time for consideration in the budget for fiscal year 2005.

Many questions remain to be answered, the mayor emphasized.

"Does the borough contract with the state troopers or one of the cities or does the borough, as some citizens have suggested, create its own police force?" he said. "Does the borough do this on a service area or areawide basis?"

If the borough contracted with state troopers, the agency would require additional funding to hire more officers, AST Deputy Director Joe Masters said Monday.

Anderson said once costs are determined, borough officials can better gauge whether citizens are willing to pay for added police service.

"It is for these reasons that I believe a citizens-based task force with some members having prior experience in police protection is needed to help the assembly and myself with this important issue," he said.