People in East Washington had a chance last month to sound off on a possible merger with neighboring municipalities, and they made it clear they wanted to keep their independence and police department, but possibly not their school district.

In April, council mailed surveys to the approximately 1,900 homeowners in the borough, asking a variety of questions on a merger, the Washington School District, taxes and the police department. More than 715 completed surveys were returned.

East Washington Mayor Mark Pacilla said the surveys were sent so council could take a proactive approach to the borough's future and to address rumors about a merger with the city of Washington or South Strabane.

Before the turn of the 20th century, East Washington was a part of South Strabane. Mr. Pacilla said it was unclear why the borough broke off into a new municipality around 1900.

"East Washington came from South Strabane," council member Jeff Bull said. "It may be just a matter of putting things back where they came from."

Mr. Bull said he hadn't decided whether to support a merger, but about 40 percent of those who responded to the survey said they would be willing to pay higher taxes to keep the borough independent.

"That shocked me," said Mr. Pacilla, who said most people favored a merger with South Strabane over Washington if one became necessary.

The primary reason was the Washington School District. Respondents cited issues with education, the recent teachers strike, and the district's real estate tax rate at 125 mills, the highest in Washington County.

About a third of those who responded to the survey said they sent their children to private or parochial schools, and many favored a switch to Trinity School District, which encompasses South Strabane.

"The school district has produced some outstanding kids, but one-third is a huge amount to send to private schools," Mr. Pacilla said.

Washington School District Business Manager Rick Mancini said the borough accounts for about $1.28 million, or 16 percent, of the district's real estate tax revenue. Another 22 percent of the district's earned income tax revenue is generated by East Washington.

Washington Mayor Kenneth Westcott said that, while there have been no formal merger discussions, he has talked to Mr. Pacilla about providing police protection to the borough, which already pays the city about $50,000 a year for fire protection.

"We already provide them with fire services," Mr. Westcott said. "We could provide them with police services and they could remain the borough of East Washington. If I can assist them with their costs, I would be happy to do so."

The merger of services also was an option broached by South Strabane Supervisor Anthony Zelenka. Mr. Zelenka, chairman of the board of supervisors, said he thought the township would be receptive to merger discussions.

"You may not need an outright merge," he said. "You can merge services."

Mr. Zelenka said there were resources available for municipalities to assist in such mergers, although a merger of the municipalities would have to be approved by voter referendum.

An overwhelming 82 percent of those surveyed said they wanted to keep the borough's police department, which accounts for about half, or $250,000, of the borough's annual budget.

The police force, which includes one full-time chief and 14 part-time officers, has mutual assistance agreements with South Strabane and Washington.

Mr. Pacilla said a merger would help erase the duplication of services and ease borough expenditures on such things as police equipment and road paving, which costs the borough more than $100,000 a year.

The borough's budget is being strained by a consistent loss of population and property values, chiefly due to Washington and Jefferson College, which recently bought a number of properties in the borough.

A portion of the college campus is in East Washington, and all of its properties are tax exempt.

"We keep losing homes," Mr. Pacilla said. "Everybody in the borough pays a little more when we lose one of those properties."

In the end, Mr. Pacilla said, residents and council learned more about future options and ways services could be improved.

"We have a terrific little borough," he said. "We want to keep it the way it is; we love it here."