Note: This role only applies if there is no mayor

Board of Supervisors can vary in size and scope, please visit your municipal website for more accurate information. The board exercises its legislative functions by setting policy, enacting ordinances, and levying taxes. The board also performs all executive functions such as formulating the budget, providing for ordinance enforcement, approving expenses, and hiring and overseeing employees and commissions.

• Community Impact: Township supervisors cannot and should not act alone. By Code, the Board of Supervisors work as a unit. However, not all Supervisors will agree on approaches and solutions –debate is a necessary part of the legislative process and should be conducted in a fair and respectful manner. Communities need leaders who are unafraid of balancing professionally-held conflict and reasonability to push for the betterment of the whole.
  
  Additionally, the appointment powers held by the Board of Supervisors should reflect the township’s diversity, including individuals from different neighborhoods that have varied interests and backgrounds. A Supervisor must be intentional with these choices, reflecting the communities served.

• Eligibility

  • To continue serving as a supervisor, an individual must retain residence within the township

  • A supervisor may not hold any other elected township office, serve as a school board member, or hold any elective county office 

  • A supervisor may not serve as township manager, township police officer or zoning officer

• Term: 6 Years

• Term Limit: Dependent on local bylaws

• Salary: Dependent on local bylaws

Learn More: Township Supervisors Handbook

The duties and sizes of the Board of Commissioners vary between townships, please check your municipal website for details. Board of Commissioners is the governing body in Townships who function in the best interest of the township – enacting legislation which cover health, fire and police protection, taxation, and many other community issues.

To do so, Commissioners are able to make and adopt all ordinances, bylaws, rules and regulations deemed necessary to maintain peace, good government and the welfare of the township, as well as to protect the health, safety, morals and general welfare of its inhabitants. 

• Community Impact: As a Commissioner, you are the closer link between the public and statewide legislators. Because the Board has the power to enact ordinances, bylaws, rules, and regulations, if the state begins to formulate legislation that does or does not benefit your municipality, it is within your power to exert some influence.The relationship between commissioners and legislators is more effective if the board takes an official position by adopting a resolution prior to contacting their legislators and it is imperative we have Commissioners who truly listen to and act upon the needs of the community.
  
  Additionally, the appointment powers held by the Board of Commissioners should reflect the township’s diversity, including individuals from different neighborhoods that have varied interests and backgrounds. A Commissioner must be intentional with these choices, reflecting the communities served.

• Eligibility:

  • To continue serving as a commissioner, an individual must retain residence within the township

  • A commissioner is prohibited from also serving as township treasurer, township secretary or auditor; as well as a member of a school board

• Term: 4 Years

• Term Limit: Dependent on local bylaws

• Salary: Part-time, varies by local bylaws

Learn More: Township Commissioner Handbook

City Council may have different roles, powers, and configurations within local government and must be checked within your specific municipality. City Council may appoint members of boards and commissions, approve salaries of appointed city officials, approve redevelopment proposals, and designate the purposes of certain funds toward capital improvements, organizations, and public works through ordinances. Cities can adopt a variety of government structures.

• In the commission form, each member of council administers one of five city departments.

• In a mayor-council form, the mayor serves as chief executive officer and operates separately from council. Council members have no administrative role.

• In a council-manager city, the council might select one of its own members as mayor to preside over council meetings, but have no veto power. No member of the city council heads an administrative department.

• Community Impact: City Councils duties are far reaching and vary depending on the needs of the city. They authorize programs for code enforcement, housing rehabilitation, business development and the provision of community facilities. They may establish the guidelines and boundaries of historic districts and programs for commercial revitalization. 
  
  Because City Councils are required to provide an opportunity for public comment at each advertised regular or special meeting; these changes must be transparent, in the best interest of the community, and require foresight. We deserve Council members who prioritize growth, development, and livelihood for generations after their term.

• Eligibility: Refer back to Statewide Eligibility Requirements

• Term: 4 Years

• Term Limit: Dependent on local bylaws 

Learn More: City Government in PA Guidelines

The borough council is tasked with making collective decisions to advance the livability (local infrastructure, public works) and safety of the borough community. The borough council members work with its fellow members of the council, the borough mayor, and borough staff to provide governmental, social, recreational services.

• Community Impact: The council holds public meetings and becomes the face of Boroughwide operations. This is an opportunity to enact ordinances, committees, and budgetary changes toward real and sustainable change for constituents. Borough Code covers a wide range of possible municipal services dependent on available resources.

• Eligibility

  • Continuous resident of the borough (or district/ward if borough is not elected at large) for at least one year prior to the general election

  • Reside in the borough or district during the term of office

  • Not the current borough treasurer, secretary, or manager

  • Not a current school board director or charter school trustee

• Term: 4 Years

• Term Limit: Dependent on local bylaws

• Salary: Part-time, varies by local bylaws

Learn More: Borough Council Handbook

In cities and boroughs, the mayor is typically seen as the head of the executive branch of local government. They enact and enforce ordinances and laws passed by their respective city or borough councils. 

Mayors appoint and hire a municipal manager who leads and delivers government services. 

If the situation exists, the mayor may declare a state of emergency. During the state of emergency, the mayor may prohibit all or any part of the city or borough where a clear and present danger to life or property may occur. They may also limit or prohibit certain activities and transactions from being conducted in the municipality.

Mayors submit an annual report to council and the public on ways to improve the efficiency of government operations and other recommendations that are of interest to the community.

• Community Impact: Often seen as the public face of the city or borough, the mayor should reflect and represent the values of the community. As an administrator of government services, the mayor should ensure that all government services are delivered to residents in a timely and efficient manner.

• Eligibility

  • Continuous resident of the city or borough for at least one year prior to the general election

• Term: 4 years

• Term limit: Depend on local bylaws

• Salary: Dependent on local bylaws

Learn More: City Government in PA Guidelines, Borough Mayor’s Manual

The local tax collector is the municipal officer designated to collect municipal and school real estate and personal taxes levied under the municipal codes and in some cases county real estate, occupation, and personal taxes.

Because tax collectors may also work for the school district and sometimes the county, their offices are usually operated on a somewhat independent basis from the rest of municipal operations. For cities and first class townships, the tax collector is also the treasurer and has other municipal duties; these officers are more closely integrated into the municipal government.

For many municipalities, the board of supervisors, board of commissioners, borough council, or city council may appoint and contract the county treasurer or an independent professional services firm to collect taxes of the municipality. In this situation, the tax collector serves very limited functions for the municipality.

• Eligibility

  • Prohibited from simultaneously holding the offices of district attorney and school director or other municipal office.

  • In boroughs with populations with more than 3,000 the tax collector may not also serve as a borough employee.

  • Status as a public accountant or certified public accountant is not necessary

    • However, Act 48-2015 requires Tax Collectors to attend training and complete testing to become qualified tax collectors

    • Each qualified tax collector must attend 2 hours of continuing education by the end to maintain their status as a qualified tax collector. 

• Term: 4 Years

• Term Limit: Dependent on local bylaws

• Salary: Dependent on local bylaws

Learn More: Tax Collector’s Manual, PA State Tax Collector’s Association - First Time Candidates

Depending on the type of municipality (borough, township, city), the role of the auditor can be expressed in two primary ways: an elected board of three auditors or one elected controller. 

The auditor examines the accounting records and accounting practices of the organization or agency under review to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not the balance sheet and the statement of revenues and expenditures prepared from the books and records present fairly the financial position and the results of operations of the municipality, and whether the municipality complied with applicable laws and regulations. The independent review by the auditor includes judgments as to facts, supporting evidence, and adherence to generally accepted accounting principles applied consistently from year to year.

In addition to these broad assignments, the auditor should be alert to possible irregularities and fraud, as well as weaknesses in internal control. It is important for the auditor to inform the responsible officials about such weaknesses when they are discovered.

For many municipalities, the board of supervisors, board of commissioners, borough council, or city council may appoint and contract an independent certified public accounting firm to conduct the annual audit of the municipality. In these cases, the role of the auditor or controller narrows to a limited scope of work.

• Community Impact: Auditors and controllers are essential to the financial functions of the government, ensuring transparency and accountability of tax funds.

• Eligibility

  • There may be education or other certification requirements 

• Term: 6 Years if an elected auditor, 4 years if an elected controller

• Term Limit: Dependent on local bylaws

• Salary: Dependent on local bylaws

Learn More: Auditor’s Guide