county tax bills.
"It seems like people are starting to question," said Levinson. "Rather than spend any more money if towns seem to be backing out we want to know."
Some mayors have said they support the idea in principle, but would like the county to reconsider the starting salary, which at $28,000 they feel is too low. Others said they have concerns about being reimbursed for recently purchased equipment and about how soon their towns could join a county system.
Levinson said he would also be open to the towns stepping in to come up with an alternative plan.
Buena Vista Township Mayor Chuck Chiarello said many smaller towns like his are estimated to pay more under centralized dispatch, in part because they would begin paying according to assessed real estate value.
Currently Buena Vista pays according to actual usage, he said. The township contracts with Gloucester County's central dispatch.
The county and Stockton University have an agreement in which Stockton would provide almost $5 million and 10 acres of land on campus for the dispatch center. The university's police force would be headquartered there, and the county would provide dispatch services for the school.
The county would bond for the $17 to $20 million remaining in the cost of the building and computer dispatch system. The operating costs for paying wages and salaries, benefits, and costs of running the center would be shared by all 23 municipalities in county tax bills, based on equalized real estate values.
