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Lancaster Chamber of Commerce & Industry's board of directors has reinforced its support for an initiative aimed at changing Lancaster County government.
At a special session Tuesday, the board voted unanimously to urge voters to vote "yes" on a November ballot referendum that will ask whether Lancaster County should change its government from a three-commissioner structure to one with five commissioners.
The proposed Home Rule Charter, which will be on the ballot as a "yes" or "no" vote on Nov. 4, "delivers local control, fiscal accountability and citizen involvement," Chamber board chair Jim Smucker said.
In an 8-to-3 vote Tuesday, the Lancaster County Government Study Commission approved home rule, which opened the door for the ballot question.
Home rule is the process by which all Pennsylvania counties and municipalities may adopt their own charters on how their local government is structured.
"I support the county charter because I believe it is much better to have a localized governing body that is more in tune with local community issues than a state governing body that may not be able to adequately address specific local concerns," Chamber board member Stan Saunders said.
Home rule, in general, grants the public a limited right to propose ballot questions. It would allow citizens to initiate a specific ballot question seeking a smaller tax hike anytime county commissioners propose an increase of 7 percent or more.
"It cannot be stressed enough; the Home Rule Charter is an opportunity for Lancaster County citizens to shape county government to best meet local needs, as opposed to the state's one-size-fits-all mandated form of government," Smucker said.
Critics of home rule, including study commission member James Huber, claim it is inefficient and costly.The decision to look at home rule as a replacement for Lancaster County's 300-year-old three-commissioner system was helped by a push from the Lancaster Chamber more than two years ago.
By a slim 2 percent margin in 2006, Lancaster County voters created the 11-member Government Study Commission by a vote of 63,663 in favor and 61,009 against.
Chamber board member Diane Tyson said she supports home rule because it gives voters the ability to "control our destiny without the influence of state politics."
"It gives a voice to the citizens through initiative and referendum — rights not granted by the state through the county code," she said.
Currently, six counties and 71 municipalities across the state operate under a home-rule form of government.
E-mail: pburns@lnpnews.com
