Millersburg Borough is one of 2,562 units of local government in Pennsylvania. Our partners at the Pennsylvania State Association of Borough have produced an educational video discussing how local government works in the Commonwealth. The video can be seen below.
By the People, For the People: Understanding Local Government in Pennsylvania
As a unit of local government, and specifically as one of 958 boroughs, we are governed by the PA Borough Code. The Borough Code is akin to the state or federal constitution in that it spells out the powers of the government entity and the limits to those powers. It also spells out procedures for exercising those powers.
These powers are entrusted to an elected Borough Council and Mayor. Council members are elected in odd-numbered years and serve staggered four-year terms. The Mayor also serves a four-year term. Additionally, a number of appointed boards oversee specific aspects of local government. A staff of eight full-time employees and some part-time employees carry out the day-to-day operations of the Borough.
In general, the Borough government is responsible for maintaining the streets, parks and other public property such as the Borough Building and Borough Garage. This includes both the maintenance of these facilities and overseeing use by residents and visitors. It also includes facilitating community events such as the Cherry Blossom Festival and Tour de Millersburg.
The Borough also arranges for public safety and emergency services. The Borough is served by a local police department and assisted by the state police as necessary. Fire protection is provided by the Millersburg Fire Company, an all-volunteer company. Mutual assistance is available from and provided to our neighbors throughout the region. The Millersburg Ambulance Company is the first-due basic life support (BLS) provider and Life-Team Medic 6 provides advance life support (ALS).
The Borough also enforces a number of local laws, called “ordinances” to maintain and improve the health, safety and welfare of our citizens.
Finally, the Borough government is responsible for ensuring that growth and development is appropriate and safe. To that end, the Borough has a Planning Commission to oversee growth and development within the Borough. Additionally, the Borough has a number of ordinances to govern development. These ordinances include Zoning, Universal Construction Code (UCC), Stormwater Management, and Floodplain Management.
In the end, the guiding principle of local government is providing for the “health, safety and welfare” of the citizens. For most citizens, local government has the most impact on their day-to-day lives. For that reason, the elected and appointed officials of Millersburg Borough strive to respond to the needs of the residents of Millersburg.
Millersburg Borough Census Data
Founded – 1807
Incorporated – 1850
2010 Population Census – 2557
2016 Population (estimated) – 2532
Male (2015 est.) – 49.4%
Female (2015 est.) – 50.6%
Median Household Income (2015 est.) – $38,941
Median Housing Value (2015 est.) – $101,400
Rental Rate (2010 est.) – 43.3%
High School Graduate/GED (2015 est.) – 81.6%
Bachelor’s Degree or higher (2015 est.) – 12.3%
Graduate or Professional Degree (2015 est.) – 5.1%
Area – .78 square miles
Mean Commute Time to Work – 25.3 minutes
Source: US Census Bureau