House Local Government Committee Holds Hearings on Anti-Township Legislation
Townships Urged to Oppose Measures By Adopting A Resolution
The House Local Government Committee held hearings in August on two pieces of anti-township legislation. On August 17, the committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 1357 (PN 1969), which would create a state commission to review and recommend changes to local government borders. The next day, August 18, the committee discussed House Bill 2431 (PN 3570), which calls for a constitutional amendment to establish counties as the basic level of government in Pennsylvania. PSATS opposes the measures and testified at both hearings.

Under SB 1357, the boundary commission could deem a municipality as nonviable based on a number of subjective criteria, including the “inability to provide adequately for the health, safety, and welfare” of its residents, and objective criteria, such as a population of less than 400 or declining population. The committee’s recommendations for mergers, consolidations, and boundary changes would be sent to the General Assembly and, if approved, would take effect immediately. The bill, however, would put two places out of the commission’s reach: Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.

If enacted, HB 2341 would radically change the way Pennsylvanians are governed by making community-based local government unconstitutional and giving counties oversight of all municipal operations, including roads, land use and zoning, sanitation, health and safety, and law enforcement.

For several weeks, PSATS has been urging townships to adopt a resolution in opposition to these bills. The Association introduced these resolutions at the upcoming hearings as evidence that the legislation is unwanted and unnecessary.

If your township has not passed a resolution, we urge you to do so soon. A sample resolution is available by clicking here. If your township has adopted a resolution, PSATS thanks you and asks you to provide us with a copy. Please e-mail to mwilbur@psats.org, fax to (717) 763-9732, or mail to PSATS, 4855 Woodland Drive, Enola, PA 17025. Townships are also urged to provide copies of their adopted resolution to their state representatives, senators, and the local media.