Proposed merger of Demarest, Bergen County police forces spark debate over savings
Tuesday, December 4, 2012 Last updated: Tuesday December 4, 2012, 9:51 PM
BY JOHN C. ENSSLIN AND DEENA YELLIN
STAFF WRITERS
The Record
Two state lawmakers on Tuesday questioned the financial wisdom of merging the Demarest police force with the Bergen County Police, with one saying “The numbers simply do not add up.”
But county officials fired back, saying the deal will save a combined $4.7 million over a seven-year contract, with Demarest pocketing $2.3 million in savings.
The deal also will bolster the Bergen County Police by absorbing 13 Demarest officers, something county officials say is needed to handle an increased workload. Demarest will continue to be patrolled by two officers at a time. County officials say money will be saved on their end because those officers will be paid at their current pay scale — a lower rate than the typical county officer — for the first five years of the pact.
The to and fro among officials addressed a core question: Does the merger make financial sense for all county taxpayers, as well as those in Demarest?
In the first detailed public description of the proposal and the assumptions behind the deal, county officials estimated Demarest will save $2.3 million by contracting county police services through 2019. County officials figure to save $2.4 million during that time, mostly by filling vacancies with the current borough officers.