Gilberton’s battle with its gun-toting, video-making police Chief Mark Kessler, wasn’t just a messy, Second Amendment side show. It was expensive. Very expensive, considering this tiny, Schulykill County coal town of about 700 is so cash-strapped.

Just how expensive?

The Morning Call, which submitted a right to know request, has learned that lawyers have billed Gilberton $22,478 in fees and $1,082 for expenses such as transcription services since the police chief's termination case erupted last July.

To put that in perspective, the amount is nearly six times what the Schuylkill County borough annually budgets for legal expenses and represents nearly 17 percent of its total budget last year, according to The Morning Call. The newspaper added that it is unclear exactly how much of the legal bill has been paid. Records supplied to The Morning Call show $5,997 was paid Nov. 25 and $5,000 was paid Dec. 23.

Kessler, who became infamous for his YouTube videos fill with R-rated language, conservative political rants and sprays of automatic assault weapons fire, was making $15.25 an hour until he was suspended by the borough last summer. He remains suspended without pay pending his termination.