The article in your May paper regarding municipal police and fire costs [Mayors of coastal communities to discuss common concerns] reported questionable information regarding the cost per resident, sourced from the town of Manalapan.
The resident population totals are not correct, according to the population figures released by the 2010 U.S. Census bureau in March of this year. Only the towns of Gulf Stream (720 vs. actual 786), Lantana (9,704 vs. 10,423) and Manalapan (406, this is the only population total that exactly matches the U.S. Census) have numbers listed that are accurate estimates.
The populations of the towns of Ocean Ridge (2,700 vs. actual 1,786) and South Palm Beach (3,200 vs. actual 1,171) are not correctly reflected. When the correct numbers of actual residents are used, the cost estimate per resident dramatically increase: Ocean Ridge to $1,649 from $1,091 and South Palm Beach to $1,678 from $614.  
All five of these coastal towns have an increase in population from the 2000 census.  
The U.S. Census takes into consideration important factors to determine the population estimates, such as surveys, housing units, seasonal changes, postal addresses, etc.
Local government costs can be controlled and even reduced, while preserving public safety, but the starting point must be accurate statistics.

Terry Brown
Ocean Ridge

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