There has been recent discussion regarding inequity between the town of Hanover and the village of Silver Creek policing contract with the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Department. In the big picture, however, we do not see it.

Earlier this month, Silver Creek wanted to pay less of the total cost of the deal while the town would pick up a bit more. In Mayor Kathy Tampio’s eyes, this was due to population — and a larger number of incidents outside the village.

“In consideration of these statistics and in an effort to truly be fair to our village taxpayers, we would agree to sharing the cost of the 2026 Sheriff Contract for Enhanced Police Protection as well as the monthly cost of fuel to a 40% village share and a 60% town share.”

Hanover balked to that suggestion. It agreed to the current deal for enhanced police protection for 2026 at a total cost of $632,382, with quarterly payments of $158,095.50 split evenly between the town and village.

Tampio is not incorrect. But the most important part of this current agreement is Silver Creek discontinued its village police department about 10 years ago.

While the village is still paying a chunk to the Sheriff’s Department, it is nowhere near the cost of running a village operation that would reach between $1.5 million and $2 million due to staffing and benefits as well as vehicles and maintenance.

Silver Creek may think it’s costing too much now for the policing through the county. But it is a lot less than they would be paying if they had kept the village department.