Even before the stock market crashed in September and gas prices hit $4 per gallon, people were feeling stretched thin on their budgets. That’s one reason the Hooksett voters said no to the proposed town budget during the Town Meeting vote this spring. Now things are far worse, and we can only imagine how those budgeting for next year are going to deal with rising costs in a tanking economy.

The Hooksett Police Department is on a default budget. Chief Stephen Agrafiotis had to make a choice when faced with money for 28 positions when he had 29 officers: reduce the school resource officer’s time in the schools or cut back on street patrols or investigations. He chose the resource officer, and we agree with that assessment. While the resource officer program is a valuable one, it’s not as important as solving and stopping crimes.

It sometimes seems as though people want a 100 percent guarantee of safety. Put officers in schools. Put metal detectors in airports and stadiums. Screen everyone for drugs. Tap into personal phone calls in case it might be a terrorist talking about a bombing. We lull ourselves into a false sense of security if we think one officer spreading himself among three schools is some sort of guarantee. Would it be better to have Jason Defina in the schools? No question. But we have to make our priorities known. Are you willing to see your taxes go up to provide for an officer in the schools?

These decisions are only going to get more difficult. We may soon be choosing to let some roads go unplowed, trash not picked up, services at town halls curtailed, teachers and cops laid off. Energy and health costs are soaring at a time when incomes are stagnating. If you feel strongly about keeping programs like the school resource officer, be ready to pony up for it.

- Editorials published by Neighborhood News Inc. are written by an editorial board.

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