Disincorporation

Pennsylvania has a procedure whereby an area, if it meets certain qualifications, may incorporate as a borough.  

Suppose, however, a borough loses population, can no longer afford the usual services provided by boroughs, and would like to merge with a bordering township, thereby increasing both the tax base and the population of the resulting entity.  Here’s an example.  The Borough of Parryville, located in Carbon County, has a small population and no reason to exist except it has existed.  It could join Franklin Township which almost completely surrounds it.

Residents of Parryville would no doubt point to its history and complain about the loss of identity.  On the other hand, Union Hill, a village in Frankin Township with roughly the same population has a history and identity but is part of Franklin. 

While I don’t think many boroughs would disincorporate because no one in Pennsylvania seems to want to do anything that hasn’t been done for the past two hundred years, our legislature should give the residents that option.  

Sorry.  I forgot.  It’s the Pennsylvania legislature, full of people like Jerry Knowles and Doyle Heffley and Scott Wagner.  Won’t happen.