The small city of Lock Haven, home to Lock Haven University, hopes to lower its now full-time police coverage and use state police for four hours a day.
Lock Haven, whose population dropped to just over 8,000 in the 2020 census, was one of eight case studies in PEL's new report,
It's Not 1965 Anymore , which examines how municipalities struggle to raise revenue under state tax law that has failed to keep pace with inflation and modern living.
Lock Haven Facts
- 37% exempt from property taxes
- 68% of housing units are rentals
- Median value of owner-occupied home is below county and state
The question is how many other full-service municipalities will have to consider reducing their local police coverage in the face of fiscal challenges outside of their control? And how will that impact the strained resources of the state police that already provide no-cost coverage for most of Lock Haven's neighbors?
It's Not 1965 Anymore was funded with the generous support of the Pennsylvania Municipal League
