As Wilkins officials consider a proposal to cut the community's four ZIP codes to one, they recognize they face an uphill battle.

The proposal, which was introduced by resident Lisa DiLucente at the July 14 council meeting, is for the township to make a combined effort with Forest Hills and Churchill to request a new post office -- or, at the very least, a single ZIP code -- for the three municipalities.

Ms. DiLucente said the changes were necessary because the nearest post office to Wilkins is miles away in Penn Hills, because a ZIP code would further establish the township's identity and because residents can pay increased insurance premiums based on ZIP codes.

Wilkins' current ZIP codes are 15235, 15112, 15221 and 15145 -- which, respectively, represent Penn Hills, East Pittsburgh, Wilkinsburg and Turtle Creek.

Wilkins Manager Rebecca Bradley said she was open to the idea of a new post office but was more concerned with pushing for a single ZIP code. Noting that the township experiences problems with earned income tax collection because of the abundance of ZIP codes, she said a new ZIP code would eliminate some of those problems.

"Recently, we had a problem on Gardenia Drive, where the township's municipal building is," Ms. Bradley said. "One residence has a Turtle Creek ZIP code. This resident is paying earned income tax every year, but it was being applied to Turtle Creek every year.

"There are going to be times when that happens just for that resident on Gardenia, but it shouldn't happen to anyone."

U.S. Postal Service representative Tad Kelly, however, said the post office's main concern is the delivery of mail, and if service is not negatively affected by multiple ZIP codes, change is unlikely.

"Changing a ZIP code is an extremely expensive operation and process," he said. "Our biggest concern is to address the effective flow of mail."

He also said the Postal Service doesn't usually consider factors such as insurance and neighborhood identity when deciding whether to change a ZIP code.

"ZIP codes are not a geographical boundary marker," Mr. Kelly said. "The process is put in place to ensure efficiency."

Cranberry Manager Jerry Andree said his Butler County community was approved for a new post office and singular ZIP code in 1994, but he credited the change to the area's growth and a need for a new post office.

Mr. Andree agreed with Mr. Kelly that mail service is the primary function of ZIP codes, but he said there were other ways for a town to establish an identity through the Postal Service.

"I always tell communities to understand the process of mail delivery and see what you can do to help that process," Mr. Andree said, adding that neighborhoods also may request that their community name be designated as part of the existing ZIP code.

Raymond Heller, mayor of Forest Hills, and Craig Robinson, Churchill manager, said they have not had any complaints regarding ZIP codes.

Mr. Heller said he was open to the idea of a new post office and was willing to listen to how residents could financially benefit from a new ZIP code.

"I think we need to just hear a lot more information," he said. "If there's no actual benefit, I don't know that we would want to [participate]."

Mr. Robinson was noncommital.