Pennsylvania Local Government Bill of Rights
Pennsylvania Association of Township Supervisors
Stand with local government. Stand with Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania’s 2,500+ municipalities are the backbone of the Commonwealth, but are treated like subsidiaries of the state rather than partners. It’s time to move from one-size-fits-all mandates to local realities.
The Pennsylvania Local Government Bill of Rights has five core principles. Click each one below to learn more.
Local communities should guide local decisions. The people who live and work in a community know it best.
The people who live and work in a community know it best. Local decisions belong to local leaders — not to statewide mandates disconnected from ground-level realities.
Land use and zoning belong in local hands — not in statewide zoning schemes that ignore local realities.
a. Local land use decisions
Townships and local municipalities should take the lead in zoning, subdivision, and land-use planning based on comprehensive plans they create with their residents. These decisions should stay in local hands.
b. Local oversight of infrastructure
Townships and local municipalities manage the systems people rely on every day: roads, stormwater, and water and sewer services. The state should support this work with funding that helps maintain and modernize these systems.
Harrisburg and Washington must stop sending bills to communities that never placed an order. Taxpayers deserve fairness.
a. Predictable and sufficient revenue options
Municipalities should have access to revenue tools that fit their size, services, and tax base — modern, flexible, and able to keep up with inflation, not limited to property taxes alone.
b. Protection from unfunded mandates
The state or federal government should not require municipalities to carry out new responsibilities without providing full, reliable funding.
c. Fair distribution of state funds
State grants and shared revenues should be distributed using fair formulas that consider real community needs — population, rural challenges, aging infrastructure, and local economic conditions.
Transparency means accessibility. Local governments should have the flexibility to use what fits best for their community — websites, email, social media, and/or newspaper legal advertisements.
a. Modern, clear state rules
State laws on procurement, public meetings, and records should be up-to-date, easy to understand, and compatible with current technology.
b. Effective ways to publish public notices
Local governments should have the ability to use electronic advertisements, designated websites, and community papers of mass dissemination, where the public can view important public notices for free.
A partnership between the Commonwealth and its municipalities will help move Pennsylvania forward, encourage regional cooperation, and improve quality of life. Municipalities must be treated as true partners.
a. Consultation before state action
State agencies should talk with local governments before adopting policies that affect municipalities. This includes reviewing local impacts and potential financial consequences, so decisions are informed by on-the-ground realities.
b. Support for voluntary regional cooperation
State laws and funding should encourage municipalities to work together through shared services, regional planning, or intermunicipal agreements. Cooperation should be voluntary, not forced consolidation.
c. Fair and clear appeals processes
Municipalities must have straightforward ways to challenge or appeal state decisions that affect their authority, operations, or local autonomy. The process should be transparent, timely, and respectful of local decision-making.
By adding your name, you’re saying yes to:
Stronger communities and fairer rules · A respected voice in Harrisburg · An end to remote-control governance
