Wyoming Valley Art League To Meet 
The Wyoming Valley Art League Will Hold Its January Meeting At 7:30 P.m.

Abrupt Dismissals Leave Bad Feelings

Wednesday, January 08, 1997 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 





A way to reform county government, but do we have the will? &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 If the idea of saving money by eliminating the 58 city, borough and
township tax collectors serving just Luzerne County struck your fancy, then
here is another that should please you even more: Reform county government
under a modern, effective, Home Rule CharterLuzerne County still uses the
basic form developed in the 18th century -- a board of commissioners that acts
as both the legislative and the executive branches of government, backed up by
nine so-called row offices, and enhanced by more than 50 additional boards,
agencies, authorities, and institutions. Established before it was realized
that such conflicts of interest should be separated, the sole balancing power
of this crazy-quilt is the independent judiciary branch. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; This structure is one of the reasons why the current annual budget,
accompanied by the usual increase in taxes, has climbed to more than $157
million. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 But then, it is only your money. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The cost, to say nothing of the difficulty of fixing responsibility and of
adequately auditing both expenditure and performance, became so scandalous
statewide that in 1972 the state legislature -- again with amazing courage and
wisdom -- adopted Act 62 which permits the public in any county to clean
house. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 By a referendum, the public can authorize a charter study commission and,
in a subsequent referendum, accept or reject whatever reforms that commission
may propose. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 One year later just such a referendum was held in Luzerne County. Creation
of the study commission was overwhelmingly endorsed by the voters. Obviously,
neither the then board of commissioners nor the row officers were fully aware
of what the study commission could recommend. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 What it did recommend was the adoption of a model Home Rule Charter which
would eliminate the board of commissioners and replace it with a legislative
council whose members would be elected on a geographical basis, and an elected
chief executive officer, and would eliminate almost all of the row offices and
replace them with judicial support and administrative offices. This plunged
the county's political machines into panic, and then into a unified, all-out
drive to defeat the recommendations. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 That year, 1974, was an off-year election. The voting was, as usual for
such elections, light, thereby greatly increasing the strength of the
political machines, and the recommendations went down the drain. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Sixteen years later in 1990 -- another off-year election with the usual
light turn-out of voters -- a second attempt was begun. But this time the
politicos were ready, organized and easily successful. Their message was that
Luzerne County's government was the best there could be and, therefore, there
wouldn't be even a study, let alone any recommendations. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Still, a number of other counties in Pennsylvania did modernize their
government. Northampton County adopted virtually the same Home Rule Charter
and reforms that Luzerne County's political leaders and supporters found to be
too advanced for them. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 In the 23 years since Act 62 was adopted, the cost of the Luzerne County
government has increased by more than 50 percent. It still finances a creaky,
unwieldy, antiquated mess of governance that is largely unaccountable, riddled
with conflicts of interest, misaligned in its functions, staffing, and
financing, and which is geared to serve the political interests of its elected
officials rather than those of the public. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Of course, it's only your money. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 If you really care about economy in government, getting the most effective
service for every tax dollar collected, better service for all of the public,
and improving the ethical climate and moral integrity of your county
government, then you must be committed to studying and reforming that
government. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Some day, by some public, it will be done. The only questions are whether
that public will be you and whether it will be done in this century -- or in
the next. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 It is your money, your county, your call. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Tom Bigler is professor of communications at Wilkes University and a Times
Leader columnist. His column appears on Wednesday and Sunday. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

A Way To Reform County Government, But Do We Have The Will? 
If The Idea Of Saving Money By Eliminating The 58 City, Borough And Township 
Tax Collectors Serving Just Luzerne County Struck Your Fancy, Then Here Is 
Another That Should Please You Even More: Reform County Government Under A 
Modern, Effective, Home Rule Charter.