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Monday, May 10, 2010

Can This Be Done In Wicomico County

Pennsylvania Legislature to Hear Bill Eliminating Municipal Governments

In a proposal widely viewed as unlikely to pass, but still reflecting the troubled times facing local governments everywhere, a Pennsylvania State Legislator has introduced a bill to consolidate all municipal functions into the county governments and centralize their management.

Pennsylvania has a lot of municipalities.

There are cities of varying sizes, townships, boroughs and even one town. All told, there are 2,562 of them — each with their own elected officials.

That’s about 2,495 too many for Rep. Thomas Caltagirone.

The Berks County Democrat has introduced legislation calling for what he describes as a “massive shift” in the operations of local governments. His bill would call for a state constitutional amendment to have Pennsylvania’s 67 county governments absorb all the municipalities within their borders, and operate under a single countywide structure.

He cites a number of reasons for the idea: the rising cost of government and increasing property taxes, landlocked communities with stagnant tax bases and a loss of industries and business.

“You have such duplication of services with boroughs, townships, cities and counties, it doesn’t really make a whole lot of sense on economies of scale,” he said. “We should be able to hopefully save some money through more efficient operations provided on a countywide basis.”

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10 comments:

Anonymous said...

That would be incredible. It would be the best thing that ever happened to Salisbury and Maryland. We are stuck with nothing but a bunch of deadbeat, reject, wannabe politicians in the city of Salisbury, especially the Mayor's office.

There would still be positions available for Debbie Campbel and Terri Cohen on the County Council.

Anonymous said...

Yes It can be done. From top level, System wise, the city and the county have the same Munis software. Tables could be consolidated.

Absorb the good city employees, get rid of all of the defunk administration, the doubling of the high dollar functions, IT, HR, and the police force.

All it take is a willingness to change and that won't happen with the current administration.

Anonymous said...

you people are nuts the people running things now would be out of a job

Anonymous said...

Go for it.

Anonymous said...

Just what the Council of Governments ordered!

Anonymous said...

Get er done.

Anonymous said...

because they county does so well running the in-the-red school system! Think people. Think. Change would be good, giving it over to the people that oversaw the DUMP SCANDAL would not. When was the last time City employees were arrested for widespread theft like the people at the dump? That's right, never.

Anonymous said...

like the butts running this county are doing a great job?
Get real people!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
because they county does so well running the in-the-red school system! Think people. Think. Change would be good, giving it over to the people that oversaw the DUMP SCANDAL would not. When was the last time City employees were arrested for widespread theft like the people at the dump? That's right, never.

11:31 AM


Uh...you idiot, they haven't been caught yet. Gordy, Hoppes, See, Tilghman, Comagys and Dunn have been stealing from tax payers for years.

Anonymous said...

It works for the very large Baltimore County - which has no incorporated cities-