NEW BERLIN – Residents from the Town of New Berlin voted in a special meeting on Tuesday to keep the town’s police department despite potential funding concerns.

According to representatives from the Town of New Berlin, more than 200 residents voted at the special meeting, with 171 in favor of keeping the police department and 48 voting against them.

Representatives said the Town of New Berlin Police Department will continue to proudly serve the New Berlin Community.

In an interview late last year, Town of New Berlin Supervisor Robert Starr said New Berlin has been heavily impacted by the coronavirus and a number of reduced tax streams.

At that time, Starr said reduced income from New York State, a local business that isn’t able to continue with its payment in lieu of tax (PILOT) program, and reduced sales tax are all factors that have led to the reduced tax income. He said the police department costs town taxpayers approximately $180,000 a year.

He added that the town could keep the department for another year without having to cut other programs.