Less than two months after voters overwhelmingly approved the elimination of six of Allegheny County's elected row offices, County Council Republicans want to give voters a chance to eliminate another two, the treasurer and sheriff.
The success of the row office referendum in the May 17 election -- with a "yes" vote exceeding 72 percent -- emboldened Republicans. Some experts have argued that the county home rule charter requires a five-year waiting period before any new change in the form of government can be considered by voters.
Even if legal issues are addressed, Democrats appear unlikely to stray from last year's compromise legislation that spared the sheriff and treasurer, both Democrats.
With the success of May's referendum, the register of wills, prothonotary, clerk of courts and two jury commissioners will be merged into one office, an appointed director of court records. The elected coroner will be replaced by an appointed medical examiner. The elected recorder of deeds will be replaced by an appointed real estate manager. The controller's office has predicted that the changes, which will be phased in over the next three years, will save the county $773,000 annually.
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