From The Press of Atlantic City - A study of whether the Atlantic County Sheriff’s Office can provide economic police protection for eight Atlantic County municipalities is now on hold.

Officials from some of those municipalities decided during a meeting here Thursday night not to spend any money on a feasibility study until finding out once for and all if they’ll have to spend money to continue existing State Police patrols.

That issue hinges on the state budget, which must be approved by the Legislature by July 1.

The budget as originally presented by Gov. Jon S. Corzine gave municipalities the option of paying for continued State Police coverage, creating their own police departments or contracting for police services with municipalities that already have departments. Officials in rural municipalities said their taxpayers can’t afford either option.

A recent budget proposal would have rural municipalities pay a share of their State Police protection costs, but the collective payments would decrease from $20 million to $12 million.

During Thursday’s meeting, Assemblyman Vince Polistina, R-Atlantic, said officials on the Assembly Budget Committee told him a plan was being worked out by which rural municipalities under a certain population figure could continue to get State Police protection without having to pay for it.

“A lot of people recognize that it’s unfair … to double-charge us for police protection,” he said.

Last month, officials from Estell Manor, Buena Vista Township, Weymouth Township, Folsom, Port Republic, Corbin City, Egg Harbor City and Mullica Township decided to study whether it would be possible for the county Sheriff’s Office to provide police protection more economically, and without jeopardizing public safety, than the State Police.

State Police currently patrol Buena Vista Township, Weymouth Township, Folsom, Port Republic, Corbin City and Estell Manor. Egg Harbor City and Mullica Township have their own police departments but are considering merging operations to save money.

Officials from the eight municipalities acknowledged from the beginning that it might turn out to be more costly for the Sheriff’s Office – which would have to do things such as hire extra officers and buy more patrol cars – to handle law enforcement duties.

County Sheriff James McGettigan said Thursday night said State Police presence in the rural municipalities is “not as visible as it used to be.” He noted that the number of citations issued by State Police in this municipality is down considerably from last year.

“Work product is representative of what’s going on out here,” he said.

Estell Manor Mayor Joseph Venezia said State Police are already only patrolling state highways, such as Route 50, and major county roads in the municipality. They only travel local roads when responding to incidents on those roads, he said.

Venezia said the officials from the eight municipalities want to hold one final meeting on the topic and plan to invite state legislators from throughout southern New Jersey to address the issue.

To e-mail Thomas Barlas at The Press:

TBarlas@pressofac.com