Maxatawny Township – a member of the Berks-Lehigh Police commission – like Upper Macungie, is forming its own force. And Topton Borough, also part of Berks-Lehigh, agreed to buy police coverage from Maxatawny at a $50,000 discount, according to The Reading Eagle.

Berks-Lehigh is dissolving because Upper Macungie – the largest of the members – withdrew earlier this year and will form its own force on or before Jan. 1, 2013. Upper Macungie was paying the largest amount, $2.6 million a year, though all members have equal voting rights.

Upper Macungie Supervisors believe they will get better and less expensive coverage by going it alone.

This leaves the other members, which also includes Lyons in Berks County, to find other options for police coverage.

Maxatawny decided to create its own force and offer coverage to Topton and Lyons. Topton supervisors unanimously accepted the proposal Thursday.

According to the report, Topton will get 2,740.5 hours of annual police coverage at a cost of $167,349 in 2013 and $173,008 in 2014. That’s $50,000 less they paid as a member of Berks-Lehigh, the report states.

Lyons is yet to decide on a proposal.