Dayhoff Soundtrack: Commentary Tomlinson: Pay attention, but don't fear idea of charter government

Monday, February 04, 2019

Commentary Tomlinson: Pay attention, but don't fear idea of charter government

By Christopher Tomlinson January 21, 2019 https://www.carrollcountytimes.com/opinion/columnists/cc-op-tomlinson-20190118-story.html

On Jan. 10, the Board of County Commissioners had a lengthy conversation about charter government and a motion was made — not a motion to transition our county to charter government, but a motion to learn more about charter by having county leaders from across the state come to Westminster to educate the board

The commissioners are not the only ones considering menu options that include charter government. Recently, readers of the Carroll County Times have been served several helpings of articles and columns discussing the issue. Folks navigating the waters of social media have to navigate the facts and fake news about charter that been posted like a boat skipper steering his boat through sunken debris in the Chesapeake Bay. However, for the majority of us who call Carroll County home, pay our taxes, and make an honest living, the idea of charter government is a foreign concept that means very little.

The counties of Maryland operate under one of three forms of government; Commissioner, “Code” Home Rule, or “Charter” Home Rule. There are currently six counties operating under the commissioner-style of government, including Carroll County. The largest share of Maryland’s counties (11 in all) have adopted a charter form of government. How do these two forms differ from each other?

Read much more here: https://www.carrollcountytimes.com/opinion/columnists/cc-op-tomlinson-20190118-story.html

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