Lancaster County Home Rule Charter (2008)

A Home Rule Charter Question was on the November 4, 2008 ballot in Lancaster County.

This measure was defeated

• YES 75,663
• NO 126,290 d

Text of Question

"Shall the Home Rule Charter contained in the report, dated August 19, 2008, of the Government Study Commission prepared in accordance with the Horne Rule Charter and Optional Plans Law, be adopted by Lancaster County?"

Summary

If the question is approved by voters, it will:

• Increase from three to five County Commissioners with staggered term limits, reduced salaries and reduced administrative workload
• Create Professional County Executive
• Consolidate the Register of Wills, Clerk of Courts and Prothonotary into one office
• Eliminate two part-time jury commissioners.
• Establishing an Office of Management and Budget, strengthening Controller’s watchdog role, requiring multi-year budget planning and analysis
• Citizen Referenda
• Non-Partisan Board of Elections to be appointed by the County Commissioners
• Cap future tax rate increases

See also

• Proposed Home Rule Charter
• Charter summary
• Final Report of Government Study Commission
• Commonwealth Foundation Blog Post
• David Latzko paper on Home Rule and the Size of County Government in Pennsylvania (2005)
• David Latzko paper on Home Rule and the Size of County Government in Pennsylvania (2008)

Pros and Cons

• Pro Home Rule: Citizens for Home Rule
• Anti Home Rule: Home Rule Gamble

News Stories

• WGAL news story and videos
• Lancaster Online article on whether home rule would result in tax increases
• Lancaster Online article on political divide on home rule
• Lancaster Online article on how the study panel was divided