Trafford council issued an ultimatum to residents Tuesday night: Start donating to the volunteer fire company and the ambulance service, or be forced to support them.
To set an example, council included two line items in the 2007 budget granting $10,000 each to the fire department and the emergency medical services.
"These grants are not enough for what it takes for them to operate. We are aiming to slow down the rate of decay," Councilman Frank Bruno said.
"We're giving everyone a one-year grace period to see if the community will come forward. If that doesn't happen, we will impose a fee. It's absolutely mandatory that this borough maintain its police, fire and ambulance services," Bruno said.
The $1.18 million balanced package, with no attached increase in the real estate tax rate, was passed unanimously last night.
While the police department takes the lion's share of the budget at $270,775, council credited Mayor Kevin Karazsia's management of the force for keeping it under budget. Of the $255,521 allotted this year, just $199,471 was spent.
"We're a little further under budget that we anticipated and will end the year with a surplus," Karazsia said.
Armed with these savings, the mayor said he plans to add extra shifts.
Councilman Rich Laird made a motion to rescind one made in June requiring council's approval for overtime shifts.
"Kevin is a competent manager of the police department," Bruno said.
Next year, council will be looking at tapping more revenue sources by restructuring its fee schedule for utility work.
Code enforcement officer Brian Lindbloom said he researched the fee schedule of nearby communities including Monroeville, Pitcairn, North Huntingdon Township and Penn Township and found the borough's charges were 20 percent lower than all of them.
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