Is it legal for a borough to misappropriate budgeted police funds?

Full question:

I am a mayor in a small borough. Recently I hired a chief of police and one officer, after not having an officer or a police department for a entire budgeted year. When the citizens asked if the 2006 budgeted money was still there they were told "yes" by the president of the council. However, the money was not there. The money was spent elsewhere. That information was not told to the public. Ethically I find this to be wrong and I question if this a misappropriation of funds, since the taxpayers were told it was for the police and it was budgeted for the salary and the police department. The president now admits the money is not there and was spent in other areas. Is this legal? This was an adopted budget for the borough.

  • Category: Criminal
  • Date:
  • State: Pennsylvania

Answer:

In Pennsylvania, a borough is a type of municipality. Given the situation you've described, it may be advisable to contact the Criminal Law Division of the Pennsylvania Attorney General's office. They can provide guidance on potential misappropriation of funds and the legality of the actions taken. Here are the contact details for the Criminal Law Division:

  • Harrisburg, PA - Phone:, Fax:
  • Norristown, PA - Phone:, Fax:
  • Philadelphia, PA - Phone:, Fax:

Additionally, you can reach the Criminal Prosecutions Section at these numbers:

  • Harrisburg, PA - Phone:, Fax:
  • Norristown, PA - Phone:, Fax:
  • Pittsburgh, PA - Phone:, Fax:
  • Wilkes-Barre, PA - Phone:, Fax:

This content is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Legal statutes mentioned reflect the law at the time the content was written and may no longer be current. Always verify the latest version of the law before relying on it.

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In local government, the chief executive is typically the mayor or city manager, depending on the structure of the municipality. The chief executive is responsible for overseeing the administration of local government functions, implementing policies, and ensuring that laws and regulations are enforced.