While James DeCapua has not prepared a budget for the Southwest Mercer County Regional Police Department, he is asking its member municipalities for 5 percent increases in their operating assessments.

Farrell Mayor William Morocco asked DeCapua, chairman of the police commission, if that figure is likely to be firm or if it could change once a budget is formulated.

"I have to hold the rate to 5 percent, period," DeCapua said. "I won't ask the municipalities for more because it simply won't fly."

Farrell City Manager LaVon Saternow increased the operating assessment by 5 percent in her proposed budget. Wheatland and West Middlesex have not passed tentative budgets.

DeCapua hopes the police union will go along with a change in health care coverage that will ease one of the biggest potential problems.

The department has hospitalization through the Northwest Pennsylvania Cooperation Council, and has been told that rates could jump from 14.8 percent to 18.5 percent.

DeCapua said he was able to work out a deal to switch to the Teamsters union's health care plan that would keep rates the same while improving coverage.

Visual and dental plans would be added, and prescription coverage and life insurance would be improved, DeCapua said.

The union must approve the deal, and DeCapua said he believes it can be done without opening the police contract. The contract only states that the commission must provide health care coverage equal to what it now has, he said.

By keeping the change outside the contract, the commission would not be responsible for sticking with the plan should rates become "unaffordable" in the future, he said.

The Teamsters rates would be good through 2003, he said.