[HOME RULE CHARTER of ALLEGHENY COUNTY: Approved
by the Voters of Allegheny County at the election held on May 19,
1998 Effective January 1, 2000]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Administrative Code — See Ch.
5.
HOME RULE CHARTER OF ALLEGHENY
COUNTY PREAMBLE
We, the people of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania,
believe that:
A home rule government will transfer substantial
authority over our County government from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
to the people of Allegheny County;
A home rule government that separates the legislative
and executive functions previously vested solely in the Board of County
Commissioners will provide checks and balances on the powers of government
and protect the rights, privileges and powers reserved or guaranteed
to the people by the Constitutions of the United States of America
and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania;
A home rule government will preserve the powers
of our cities, boroughs, townships and home rule municipalities;
A home rule government that permits initiative
and referendum will respond to the concerns of its citizens; A home
rule government with a legislative County Council with Members elected
by district and at large will represent the diversity of our County's
citizens and provide better access to County government; A home rule
government with an elected Chief Executive will foster leadership,
vision and accountability;
A home rule government with an appointed professional
Manager will improve the effectiveness and efficiency of County government
operations;
A home rule government that holds its officers
and employees to high standards of conduct and behavior will enhance
public trust in County government;
A home rule government, as embodied in this
Charter, will protect the taxpayers of Allegheny County by:
limiting taxing powers, preventing the use of
the reassessment process to gain windfall real estate tax revenue
increases and preventing a change in real estate tax rates except
by a vote of at least two-thirds of the County Council: placing reasonable
limits on the compensation, staff and expenses of the County Council
and the Chief Executive; requiring that no budget appropriation in
any given year is assumed automatically to continue into subsequent
years; requiring that each County department, agency and function
is subject to periodic sunset review, and assessing, to the extent
permitted by law, the fair market value of real estate in accordance
with accepted assessment standards and providing open access to all
public information concerning real estate assessments, taxes and procedures;
A home rule government will enhance cooperation
among governments, businesses, labor unions, educational institutions
and other community and civic organizations in order to encourage
the creation of family-sustaining jobs; and
A home rule government that provides the structure,
accountability, leadership, representation, effectiveness and efficiency
necessary to improve the delivery of County services will increase
economic growth and development and foster a higher quality of life
for all County residents.
Therefore, in accordance with the Constitution
and laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, we adopt this Home Rule
Charter of Allegheny County.