Township Prepared for Berks-Lehigh Pension Shortfall

Upper Macungie Township is prepared for the anticipated pension shortfall from the unwinding of the Berks-Lehigh Regional Police Department. 

The township, according to supervisor Sam Ashmar, has $730,000 banked for an expected pension shortfall.

The Berks-Lehigh Police Commission voted unanimously to dissolve the regional police department as of Dec. 31, 2012 after Upper Macungie supervisors voted to leave the Berks-Lehigh force and create their own as of Jan. 1. 

There has been a lot of discussion surrounding the BLRP's pension shortfall, which Ashmar estimated could be higher than $700,000 for Upper Macungie.

Both Ashmar and township supervisor chairman Edward Earley sit on the Berks-Lehigh Regional Police Commission, which is still holding meetings to wind down and disburse assets.

Earlier this year, township supervisors set up a special account dedicated to Berks-Lehigh pension monies.  The township netted $600,000 earlier this year from an auction of Berks-Lehigh Regional Police equipment and other assets.