RISING FROM THE ASHES
Cameron County consolidation has new life

A citizens' group is planning a petition drive to let voters decide whether the local government system in Cameron County should be drastically streamlined.

This latest effort takes a new approach to an issue that has been debated for several years. Additional details will be released during public meetings across the county in the coming months.

The petition drive is geared toward placing the issue before voters this November under provisions of the Multi- Municipal Consolidation and Merger Act.

Last July, a majority of township and borough elected officials voted against the plan to place a home rule charter plan on the November 2007 ballot for a "yes or no" vote by the people. Shippen Township and Driftwood Borough were the only municipalities to approve the ballot referendum.

County officials worked with a paid consultant and Penn State's Cooperative Extension Service to draft that plan. After the meeting, supporters said they would push for a plan to bring the issue before the voters in 2008.

They argued that radical changes are necessary in the structure of Cameron County's local government, due largely to population losses and a stagnant economy.

A private study found that taxes could be reduced across the county by as much as $500,000 a year if the township and borough governments were dissolved and replaced with a consolidated system. Tax savings would have come largely due to a reduction of about 30 local government positions.

Opponents of the plan countered that the home rule charter would lead to less local government representation and might reduce services.

The previous plan called for a nine-member countywide council to be elected. The offices of county commissioner, township supervisor, borough council member, mayor and several others would have been eliminated.

A citizens' group working on a new plan has not yet released