-----
---- —
In tough economic times, this axiom is often expressed: Will the last person leaving town please turn out the lights? In Sharon, they’re turning out lights so people can afford to stay.
Sharon City Manager Thomas Lavorini this past week announced that the city was planning to turn off about 400 street lights to save about $73,000 a year. That money would go toward preserving jobs of safety forces.
The announcement brought to light — pardon the pun — two important things: 1) The city has far too many street lights; 2) The value of having a city manager form of government is already paying off for taxpayers in Sharon.
For too many years, the strong mayor form of government was counterproductive in some areas. If a resident went to the mayor and asked for a street light, the politically conscious city leader had to consider the wishes of voters.
The apparent outcome was a huge number of street lights, which reportedly amounts to three or four times that found in all neighboring communities combined. It is a heavy burden on taxpayers.
But even realizing the cost — currently about 4 mills of taxes — a mayor would be reluctant to turn out lights and anger some voters.
That was then; this is now.
City voters a few years ago overwhelmingly voted for home rule and a city manager government. One of the best things about having a city manager is that he or she doesn’t need to worry as much about political maneuvering.
A manager can make decisions that are in the best interest of all the people, rather than a few who may have the ears of elected officials. It’s difficult for city councils to remove a manager, especially when they know the manager is right.
For example, Farrell City Manager LaVon Saternow reduced the number of street lights in that city as far back as 1992. It saved hundreds of thousands of dollars since then for a municipality that is operating under the state’s Act 47 rules as financially distressed.
While there were complaints from various citizens, eventually the concern passed. And it will in Sharon as well.
However, just think how much Sharon could have saved if the city had followed the lead of its neighbor in the ’90s.
Yes, street lights have value at intersections. And yes, some people think they are a deterrent to crime. But citizens must realize that they need to be responsible for their own properties. Every citizen can install their own security lights. The most valuable lighting to deter crime is close to your home, not out by the street.
Sharon police and firefighters surveyed the city and made recommendations on which lights could be turned off. And people who worry about crime need to realize: It’s much better to remove lights than police and firefighters.
