Evans City council members shared concerns at their Monday night meeting about the recently ratified police commission contract — and what it may mean for the town’s taxes.

The contract, which was ratified Sept. 17, runs to the end of 2022 and includes pay increases for officers of 4 percent for the first two years, 3.5 percent for the third and fourth and 3 percent for the fifth.

This likely means Evans City’s property taxes will have to increase for each of those years.

“We’re looking at a millage increase,” said Lee Dyer, council president. “We had a tax reduction a few years ago.”

Evans City reduced its millage from 22.88 mills to 20 mills in 2015.

Some council members argued that they’d rather see a reduction in coverage than tax increases.

“I’m suggesting that we reduce the amount we pay, and that would reduce our coverage,” said Councilman Paul Foster.

The Evans City/Seven Fields Regional Police Department has two officers stationed in Evans City at all times. A reduction in coverage could lower that figure to one.

“I don’t think people in the community would appreciate us raising the taxes every year for the next five years,” said Councilwoman Kim Armstrong. “I don’t think we have to raise taxes.”

Still others believed the increase was necessary.

“I think we’re going to have to raise taxes,” said Mayor Dean Zinkhann. “We need public safety.”

If the council does move to raise property taxes, it probably would take it back to the previous level, which would mean raising taxes by about 3 mills, Zinkhann said.

Dyer said the only way to prevent a tax increase would be to reduce police coverage. Evans City would have to change the terms of the police contract, he said.

“I can tell you this financial committee has been through this borough with a fine-tooth comb,” he said. “I don’t think anyone can say we’ll never raise taxes again.”

Armstrong added that this may not be the only thing that affects taxes in the 2018 budget.

“We may have to raise taxes regardless of the contract,” she said. “Our general fund is low for a municipality of our size.”

To change the contract, all concerned parties would have to agree.

In the end, the council decided it will seek more information from the police commission about how any of these hypothetical changes might work, or if they could happen at all.

Evans City’s representatives on the police commission — Dyer, Armstrong and Zinkhann — will raise the issue with the commission.