A town in Loudoun County, Virginia, has decided to retain its police department after facing significant opposition from residents. The town of Purcellville had considered disbanding the local police force to save over $3 million, a move prompted by financial challenges following the construction of a major wastewater treatment facility that left the town with a $50 million deficit.
According to Fox News, the Purcellville Town Council initially proposed dissolving the police department and relying on the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office for law enforcement as part of efforts to tighten the budget. This proposal led to public backlash and recall petitions targeting several council members and Vice Mayor Ben Nett.
Council members advocating for the dissolution argued it was necessary to reduce water bills for Purcellville’s 9,000 residents. However, during a crowded town council meeting, officials voted to allocate $3.2 million for maintaining the police force in 2026. The decision was met with cheers from residents present at the meeting.
Fox 5 DC reported that during public comments, residents expressed their opposition to eliminating the department in favor of lower water bills. They also criticized the council for holding an earlier vote on the proposal without allowing public input.
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