The 15 towns in Erie County without their own police departments are determined to stick together as they face the possible elimination of Sheriff's Department road patrols.
Officials at a meeting Monday in Elma Town Hall said County Executive Joel A. Giambra has indicated he plans to cut $4.5 million from the Sheriff's Department's budget next year, the approximate amount it takes to keep about 100 deputies and detectives on the job.

Sheriff Timothy B. Howard said he hopes to avoid going to court to try to get the funds restored.

The town supervisors said they want to avoid a fight with the towns and cities that do have police departments over who gets what services and what they pay.

That would be a "slippery slope" best avoided, Howard said after the session.

Parks and libraries are one thing, but under no circumstances can there be compromises when public safety is at stake, several supervisors said.

If county government can't provide "the basic service of road patrols, it ought to get the hell out of business," Newstead Supervisor Gerald F. Summe said.

The idea that towns without police forces are getting free service from the county has been argued for years.

Elma Supervisor Michael P. Nolan said some towns don't have libraries and some residents don't use Erie County Medical Center. Still, everyone pays for them.

"We are not going to pay (additionally) for road patrols," Nolan said.

About 80 percent of the Sheriff Department's $56.6 million budget goes toward maintaining the Holding Center, Howard said.

And several supervisors were quick to point out most of the inmates are from Buffalo.

Last year, the Town of Sardinia had one inmate in the Holding Center for one day but still paid to operate it, Howard said.

Denise E. Marshall, R-Lancaster, was the only county legislator to attend the session.

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