An Act amending the act of July 28, 1953 (P.L.723, No.230), known as the Second Class County Code, providing for the voluntary dissolution of the existing form of governance of a municipal corporation located in a county of the second class and the creation of unincorporated districts of counties of the second class; authorizing the county to assume responsibility for the governance of the municipal corporation and delivery of public services to the citizens residing in the municipal corporation through the administration of an unincorporated district; authorizing unincorporated district advisory committees; and making a repeal.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Jay Costa and 4 co-sponsors

Pennsylvania municipalities in second-class counties can voluntarily dissolve and convert to county-administered unincorporated districts, reducing local governance but centralizing services.

Referred to Local Government

Legislative bill overview

SB 632 allows municipalities in second-class Pennsylvania counties to voluntarily dissolve their current governance structure and convert into unincorporated county districts. The county would then assume direct responsibility for providing municipal services (police, public works, etc.) to residents in these dissolved municipalities. The bill also establishes advisory committees to represent residents' interests in these new unincorporated districts.

Why is this important

Many small municipalities struggle with rising operational costs, aging infrastructure, and declining tax bases. This bill offers an alternative consolidation pathway that could reduce administrative overhead and allow struggling municipalities to access county resources and economies of scale. However, it fundamentally changes local governance structures and raises questions about representation and service quality in affected communities.

Potential points of contention

Loss of local control: Residents would shift from electing their own municipal officials to relying on county-appointed administration, reducing direct democratic input on local decisions

Service quality concerns: County administration of multiple dissolved municipalities could strain resources or create unequal service delivery compared to municipalities that maintain independence

Financial transparency: Unclear how costs would be allocated between the county budget and residents of unincorporated districts, and whether residents could face unexpected tax increases

Advisory committee authority: The bill doesn't specify whether advisory committees would have binding power or be merely consultative, potentially limiting resident influence