Easton Police Department shows over $800K reduction in 2025 budget

EASTON, Pa. — Easton Police Department’s 2025 budget is looking at a decrease of more than $800,000 from last year, Chief Carl Scalzo told city council on Tuesday.

In a budget presentation, Scalzo highlighted the department’s total budget — $12,987,422 allotted for police expenses and $780,780 for traffic control expenses — was $805,870 below 2024’s totals.

Mayor Sal Panto's proposed 2025 budget currently sits at $38,451,837, down $195,963 from 2024, with no property tax increases.

According to Scalzo, the 2025 figures for law enforcement developed well.

“This is actually one of my easier budget presentations," Scalzo said. "This is my 17th budget presentation, believe it or not, and this year, because of [Earned Income Tax credits], the numbers look really, really good."

Police revenue is tallied at $454,249 for 2025, while traffic control is expected to pull in $3,784,225.

Scalzo said the proposed police department expense budget, not including traffic control, had been reduced 5.84%, primarily because of the non-resident Earned Income Tax rate.

Overall, the department’s operational budget, when looked at apart from the total budget, saw a $3,039 — 0.32% — increase.

Scalzo pointed to $10,000 added to the department’s normal Community Development Block Grant, making for $30,000, which helped offset some budget changes.

A 63-man department

One of the more notable and allegedly necessary increases has to do with a rivalry that has captured plenty of attention in the Lehigh Valley this past week.

With the classic Lehigh/Lafayette college football game set to take place in Easton for the next two years, Scalzo said the department allotted an increase cost for the event.

“I don’t intend on them tearing down a goalpost,” Scalzo said, eliciting laughs from council. Lehigh students tore down the goalposts after the game at that school last weekend.

The traffic division expense budget saw a 1.78% reduction, Scalzo said, because of personnel and operational efficiencies within the division, with a total operational decrease of $13,909.

In total, the proposed overall police expense budget showed a 5.62% decrease.

“As we move forward and head into next year, from a budgetary standpoint, a 63-man department is where we’re slated,” Scalzo said.

He added that there's a slot for a temporary hire.

With the potential for some officers to seek retirement next year, the chief said the department will look to maintain current funding with the hope that academy graduates can fill any vacancies.

A new evidence storage place

One challenge in the coming year will be locking down a new location for bulk evidence, the chief said. He said grants may help offset the costs if the department requires a new structure.

“As far as what looking for, some sort of pole-type building where we can basically secure all of our bulk evidence and some of the other equipment that we would need and keep it to a secure environment," he said.

"So we're working on that, and that's probably the largest initiative that we have at this time."

Another important detail included the introduction of two hybrid police vehicles intended for the fleet. Scalzo said the hybrids are “really, really cost-effective, but also perfect for what we need in law enforcement.”

'Comes down to volume'

Looking further into the future, Councilman Frank Pintabone questioned the department in light of increased development and a potential population increase.

“You know, with the development just on the books in downtown and the 100-plus units that we're looking at on South Side, plus the RDA, do you feel we have adequate amount of officers for an extra, maybe, 1,000-plus people over the next two, three years?” Pintabone said.

Scalzo said, “It really comes down to call volume, types of calls that you’re seeing.” He indicated the department will have to keep an eye on what is happening to make an informed decision.

“It comes down to crime that you're seeing in the city,” Scalzo said.

Earlier, he said violent crime in particular had decreased drastically in the city, with about 1,100 reported incidents 10 years ago, and about 300 reported in 2024 to date.

“But overall, the biggest issue that you'll find is going to be quality of life, stuff that you're bringing up, having more officers on board," Scalzo said.

"Just the ability to put an officer dedicated to a neighborhood dealing with parking, or whatever the issue is, to have units that can respond to quality-of-life issues as they arise, and be more flexible when it comes to dealing with those situations.”