Carroll voters could decide in this fall?s election whether their type of county government needs to change.
“People feel a lot of anger and mistrust,” Commissioner Dean Minnich said after a commissioner meeting Thursday, referring to when local bills fail to pass in the General Assembly.
On the table is the current commissioner model vs. code home rule.
Code home rule would allow commissioners to pass local legislation without the General Assembly?s approval, but the legislature still would retain taxing powers, county attorney Kim Millender said.
Home-rule proponents said the district map bill?s defeat is proof the system must change. Voters backed five commissioners elected in five districts in a 2004 referendum.
“With code home rule, the way you do business today is the same as tomorrow, the commissioners just have more authority and independence from the state,” said Victor Tervala, a legal consultant for the University of Maryland?s Institute for Governmental Service.
However, Carroll voters have been reluctant to change their government. Voters rejected charter government ? consisting of a county executive and council ?in 1992 and 1998 referendums.
A local and county government expert and author of “Home Rule Options in Maryland,” Tervala said he assists counties that make the switch and would help to educate the public on the differences.
In 2002, Tervala, of Westminster, helped Charles County residents understand the differences when that county changed from commissioner to code home rule.
“The issue is trying to convince people of the need to change,” he said.
“Usually, this doesn?t go through unless something is really broke.”
Before code home rule makes it to the November ballot, Carroll first must hold informational meetings and two required public hearings, and two out of three commissioners must vote for the change by Aug. 21, the deadline for submitting a ballot question to the county board of elections, Millender said.
She said she would announce the timeline for code home rule meetings next week.
Lawmakers weigh in on code home rule
» Del. Donald Elliott, R-District 4B: “Let?s get five commissioners first before code home rule.”
» Del. Susan Krebs, R-District 9B: “This is a step in the right direction.”
» Del. Nancy Stocksdale, R-District 5A: “Let?s see what the people want.”
» Sen. Allan Kittleman, R-District 9: “People have the right to decide what kind of government they want, but they shouldn’t think that they wouldn’t have to go to the delegation for anything.”
