With its thousands — yes, thousands — of municipalities spread across 67 counties, Pennsylvania ranks near the top of the list of states in the U.S. in terms of the number of local governments or special districts.
Some consider it a cumbersome and fractured system. Others argue the structure is an intimate one that brings government to the doors of its citizens. The fact is, there are costs and benefits either way. And wholesale change to the structure in Pennsylvania isn’t going to happen anytime soon.
But a movement is afoot in one small corner of Western Pennsylvania: merging the borough of Wilkinsburg with the City of Pittsburgh.
The Wilkinsburg Community Development Corporation, which of critical note is not affiliated with the borough government, has been gathering signatures for a petition seeking a merger. And Pittsburgh City Controller Michael Lamb, a fiscal watchdog, is lending his support to the notion for reason of mutual benefit.
A majority of Wilkinsburg Borough Council is against the proposition. This is predictable because, well, it is a matter of self-preservation — both in terms of the autonomy and existence of the borough itself as well as the elected positions of the borough councilmembers whose terms of office would evaporate along with the borough boundaries which would disappear should a merger happen.
Mr. Lamb has studied the matter and has concluded that the geographical and economic particulars make a merger ripe.
He has done the math and believes that the city’s increased revenue by virtue of a merger would offset the cost of providing services to the borough. And the quality of the borough’s services would be enhanced, he believes. An example: Wilkinsburg has been contracting with Pittsburgh for fire services since 2011 and, since then, response times have been faster, Mr. Lamb notes.
There are sure to be identity issues for the borough’s 15,000 residents but emotions should be set aside in evaluating the proposition.
For Pittsburgh, welcoming Wilkinsburg to the fold means growth, and growth can be the difference in many federally funded programs. Annexing a neighboring municipality is the quickest way to up the city’s population roster.
Wilkinsburg Mayor Marita Garrett put it on the table frankly in a statement: “This conversation is about equity and opportunity for both municipalities...Right now, our tax rate is oppressive and prevents home ownership, wealth generation and job creation for mostly Black residents who are leaving the borough as a result. Wilkinsburg needs to be a true part of the city’s family in order to reach its full potential, and as history has proven with existing shared services contracts, this can and will be a win-win.”
The next step should be an education campaign that would look at all the facts.
Public involvement sessions then could be followed by a voting referendum. The people of Wilkinsburg must have a voice in this decision.
The smart move is the slow move. There is no need to squeeze a referendum onto the November ballot. The spring primary election is soon enough — and far enough away to allow residents to gather more information and to mull the idea.
Already, though, there is enough evidence on the blackboard to warrant further investigation of a merger.
First Published: July 29, 2021, 4:00 a.m.
