Senate committees consider regional planning, services

Hearing focuses on efforts to promote intergovernmental cooperation

The Senate Local Government Committee, Chaired by Senator Bob Regola (R-39), and the Senate Urban Affairs and Housing Committee, Chaired by Senator John Pippy (R-37), held a joint public hearing Thursday (April 10) in the Greensburg Garden and Civic Center to hear testimony on multi-municipal planning and shared services.

The hearing focused on best practices at the local level, current state efforts to promote intergovernmental cooperation, and recommendations on how the state can further encourage multi-municipal planning and shared services. 

Senator Regola opened the hearing by noting his experience as a former township supervisor and his role in helping to develop a multi-municipal plan to guide growth with coordinated land use and transportation planning.

"Now, one of my priorities as Chairman of the Senate Local Government Committee is encouraging intergovernmental cooperation," Senator Regola said. "While we all know that forced consolidation is a non-starter, we can and should be talking about ways to save taxpayer dollars through working together and sharing services where possible."

Regarding intergovernmental sharing of services, Senator Pippy noted the talks regarding the potential consolidation of Allegheny County and the City of Pittsburgh.

"We have seen a number of studies that have considered ways to make government more efficient," Senator Pippy said. "Now, we need to move beyond the reports and look at identifying the critical pathways to move forward."

George W. Dougherty, Jr., Assistant Professor at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public and International Affairs Public and Urban Affairs presented a detailed report on the economic stability of communities in southwestern Pennsylvania, concluding that many are facing "financial distress." He strongly supported the voluntary sharing of services. Communities providing services would receive a stable revenue stream while the receiving communities would obtain better quality services at a lower cost.

Tom Scott, Attorney for 10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania, said municipal boundary lines are barriers to the efficient delivery of services. He said the state should provide more incentives to encourage intergovernmental mergers and shared services.

Dick Hadley, President of the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors, said joint purchasing agreements, formal and informal, are becoming more commonplace across the state. He said councils of government (COG) are active in other areas, such as addressing storm water run-off.

Senator Pippy noted that there is nothing in state statute that precludes Allegheny County and Pittsburgh from starting a cooperative arrangement without legislative action. 

Senator John Eichelberger (R-30 and Vice Chairman of the Local Government Committee) asked what steps can be taken when a municipality wants to merge with another entity that doesn't want to formally merge. Hadley said any formal merger must involve two willing partners, but said they could consolidate some services.

Senator Bob Robbins (R-50 and Chairman of the Pennsylvania Local Government Commission) asked how various state departments could assist communities in the cooperative efforts.

Barb Ciampini, Planning Director for the City of Greensburg discussed the development and successes of a multi-municipal plan with the City of Greensburg, Hempfield Township, South Greensburg Borough and Southwest Greensburg Borough. In 2006, the municipalities shared the Governor's Award for Local Government Excellence for Innovative Planning and Sound Land Use Planning. 

Susan Hockenberry, Executive Director of the Local Government Academy, said her agency conducted a survey in 2006 and found that most municipalities were open to cooperation. She added that her agency found among the survey respondents "there is a gap between what is considered optimal versus what is considered likely" in regard to shared municipal efforts.

Brian K. Jensen, representing the Pennsylvania Economy League, said pension issues can be a stumbling block to shared services. He noted that Pennsylvania has a wide range of public pension plans, two-thirds involve 10 or fewer individuals and many are under-funded. He supported passage of legislation introduced by Senator Jane Orie (R-40) to provide for a statewide consolidation of police pension plans.

Joy M. Wilhelm, Chairman of the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Planning Association, said multi-municipal planning is a key to promote smart growth and allows for a regional approach to development. She said her organization supports shared-service agreements between municipalities. 

Jake Haulk, President of the Allegheny Institute for Public Policy, applauded the Shared Municipal Services Program operated out of the Department of Community and Economic Development. He, like several other speakers, advocated the creation of "service districts" to provide and pay for a "list of contractually agreed upon" services.

Contact:  Greg Mahon     (717) 787-5839 (Sen. Pippy)
                Nate Silcox      (717) 787-6063 (Sen. Regola)