Towns to cover more for state troopers

Part of Gov. Jodi Rell's budget proposal includes cutting money for resident state troopers. That means that small towns in Connecticut will have to pay more to maintain police protection.

Quaint, Connecticut communities like Beacon Falls now pay 70-percent of the resident state trooper cost. Under Gov. Rell's budget, that cost would increase to 85-percent next year and towns would have to cover the full cost in two years.

"They're going to trickle down the burden to small communities like ours and that's going to households of people who right now can't even afford to pay taxes," said First Selectman Susan Cable (D-Beacon Falls).

That means 59 Connecticut towns have to come up with more money - not an easy feat in these tough economic times.

Mayor Bob Chatfield (R-Prospect) is crunching the numbers to find the extra $10-12 thousand dollars. Mayor Chatfield says the town has no choice because to establishing its own police force is just too expensive.

"It would be cost prohibitive. We don't have a cell and then we have to have a police board and commission and a chief and a captain," Chatfield said.

And safety remains a priority.

"I do not want to cut the safety of our community," Cable said.