FAQ Municipal Government

City, Borough, Township

(Go to this page for Lehigh County Government FAQs)

Municipality names are linked to the municipal websites
CITIES
■ Allentown ■ Bethlehem (Wards 10, 11, 12, 13 are in Lehigh County)

BOROUGHS
■ Alburtis ■ Catasauqua ■ Coopersburg ■ Coplay ■ Emmaus ■ Fountain Hill ■ Macungie ■ Slatington

TOWNSHIPS
■ Hanover ■ Heidelberg ■ Lower Macungie ■ Lower Milford ■ Lowhill ■ Lynn ■ North Whitehall ■ Salisbury ■ South Whitehall ■ Upper Macungie ■ Upper Milford ■ Upper Saucon ■ Washington ■ Weisenberg ■ Whitehall

Find your municipality with your address and nine-digit zip code.

All of the various municipal units of Pennsylvania share the same basic responsibilities with respect to the provision of public services at the local level and have similar statutory powers. Although cities have more specifically enumerated powers than boroughs or townships, many of those powers may also be exercised by boroughs and townships under general grants of power. Home rule provides equal opportunity for all classes of municipalities to exercise new powers.

Municipalities in Lehigh County include cities, boroughs, and townships. All are responsible for public infrastructure, including roads and bridges, and sewer and water systems. Municipalities provide varying degrees of public safety services, enforcement of state environmental protection regulations, and may collect trash and recycling. Municipalities may plan future development through a comprehensive plan and enforce this plan through subdivision and land development and zoning ordinances. Municipalities can improve the attractiveness of their community through property maintenance regulations and provide for the quality of life of their citizens through recreational, educational, and cultural activities.

All municipalities in Pennsylvania, rely on county and state organized courts for probate, criminal, and civil court services. See FAQ PA Judicial System

Local governments in Pennsylvania are separated into counties, boroughs, cities, and townships.

All Pennsylvanians live within two types of municipalities — a county and a municipal corporation — and pay taxes to them. State law determines that the “class” of a municipality depends on population. Pennsylvania has nine classes of counties, four classes of cities, and two classes of townships. Boroughs all operate under Borough code and do not have separate classes. Generally, each class of municipality operates under its own code of laws, which determines its structure and powers. Although the state legislature determines the powers and organization of most municipalities under state municipal code, other options exist. Local governments that operate under a home rule charter or an optional plan have the power to determine their structure and the services they will perform.

Both Allentown and Bethlehem have a mayor-council form of government.*
The Council of seven members is elected at large for overlapping four-year terms.
City Council serves as the legislative and oversight body providing checks and balances on the system. The council writes ordinances and submits them to the mayor.

The Mayor serves as chief executive and administrative officer for the municipality. The mayor shall enforces the charter and ordinances of the city. The mayor provides an annual budget to the council. The mayor provides an annual report to the council and the public on the work of the previous year and on the condition and requirements of the city government and may make recommendations for action by the council in the public interest. The mayor supervises all of the departments of the city government. The mayor has veto power, but that may be overridden by the City Council.

A Treasurer, and a Controller also are elected for a four-year period.

Allentown adopted a Home Rule Charter in 1996, a local charter that’s drafted, adopted, and amended by voters in the municipality. It assigns the rights and responsibilities of each elected official and provides for citizen input on ordinances through a process of initiative and referendum.
Detailed information on the structure of Allentown Government; Allentown’s Charter

Bethlehem retains the Charter Mayor-Council Plan A form of government, which it adopted in 1957. Its powers and structure have been determined by the Pennsylvania Municipal code as outlined by the Pennsylvania legislature, outlined in Pennsylvania 1957 Act 399 Mayor-Council Plan A.

* There are four classes of cities in Pennsylvania. Of the 56 Pennsylvania cities, 53 (including Allentown and Bethlehem) are third class cities. A Pennsylvania borough, with at least 10,000 people can ask to become a city by putting the question to its voters. (Many of the laws that apply specifically to cities are very similar to borough laws.) Third class cities can be governed three ways: Mayor-Council, Commission or Council-Manager.

Sources: About Allentown’s Government; Wikipedia List of PA Municipalities and Counties

Between 1957 and 1972, third class cities in Pennsylvania could choose the mayor-council or council-manager form of government under the Optional Third Class City Charter Law, the structure of the city government was outlined by the state. The Home Rule Charter and Optional Plans Law of 1972 extended to all municipalities the right to adopt optional plans of government, including a “Home Rule Charter.”

A Home Rule Charter transfers authority over municipal matters from state laws to a local charter that’s drafted, adopted, and amended by voters in the municipality. A home rule charter is essentially a local constitution: it sets up the government structure and outlines its authority and its limitations, it no longer has its powers and organization determined by the state legislature. Municipalities must follow laws directed at home rule governments. For example, even with home rule, municipalities still have to follow state laws like the Municipal Planning Code, the Sunshine Law, and Stormwater Management Act.

Sources: WHYY Article “What is Home Rule?”

Boroughs are not strictly classified by population and are administered through the Pennsylvania Borough Code, unless they have a home rule charter.

A borough council is the governing body of the borough. Council duties include hiring employees, adopting a budget, approving expenses, and adopting ordinances or local laws. A borough not divided into wards has three, five, or seven councilmen; in boroughs divided into wards, one, two, or three are elected from each ward. Councilpersons are elected for four year overlapping terms.

Each borough has an elected mayor who serves a four-year term. The mayor has relatively weak authority, has oversight of the borough police department, enforces borough ordinance, may declare emergencies, may veto proposed ordinances, and can break a tie in the council.

Other elected officials of the borough include the tax collector and a board of auditors, controller, or appointed
certified public accountant, and a constable. The elected tax collector collects real estate taxes and the board of auditors, controller, or appointed CPA perform an annual audit of all borough accounts.

Each borough has an appointed secretary and treasurer who serve the council. Council may appoint a borough manager to oversee employees and day to day operations of the borough.

See individual Borough Websites for specific details, such as provided services, meeting times, appointed boards.
Pennsylvania Borough Code

Pennsylvania’s townships are separated into two classifications; by default a township is a second class township, but if it has at least 300 people per square mile, residents can vote the township into first class status. Both classes of township operate under the Township code.

First Class Townships have a board of between five and fifteen commissioners who can be elected either at large or by wards within the township; and they serve for overlapping terms of four years in office.
Lower Macungie, Salisbury, South Whitehall, and Whitehall are first class townships.
Pennsylvania First Class Township Code

Whitehall Township also has an elected mayor, who is a full time chief executive and administrative official, serving a 4-year term. The mayor supervises the administration of all agencies of the Township over which he or she has appointive power and represents the township in deliberations with other governmental entities.

Second Class Townships are governed by an electedboard of supervisors, elected at large by the electorate of the whole township for overlapping 6 year terms. The number of supervisors can be increased to five by referendum. Supervisors serve as both legislative and executive. They are required to adopt annual budget, levy taxes, enact ordinances, and hire employees. Meetings are held publicly, with opportunity for public comment.

The supervisors or commissioners of the township mandated responsibilities include the appoint a secretary and a treasurer, the adoption of an annual budget, levying of taxes, hiring of employees, maintenance of streets and roads and drainage facilities.

They may appoint a township manager to coordinate township employees and operations, a zoning officer and other staff. Any Township which has enacted a Zoning Ordinance must appoint a Zoning Hearing Board. A township may have a Planning Administrator on staff and a Planning Commission that is made up of members appointed by the Township Board.

Other elected officials include a constable, a tax collector and, in many townships, auditors, who annually audit all township accounts.

Local services the township may provide include maintenance of local roads and streets, water supply, sewage collection and treatment, parking and traffic control, local planning and zoning, parks and recreation, garbage collection, health services, libraries, police and fire protection, licensing of businesses and code enforcement. Note that not all of these services are required and may not be provided. For example some townships rely on State Police protection and volunteer fire companies for fire protection; a township may not require building inspections.

See individual Township Websites for specific details such as provided services, meeting times, appointed boards.
Pennsylvania Second Class Township Code

The Lehigh Valley League of Women Voters has a listing of all Lehigh County Municipalities, that includes salaries or compensation for Mayors, Administrators, Managers, Supervisors, Commissioners and Council Members, as they pertain to each municipal entity.

Check the websites of individual municipalities to verify.
See List of Municipalities for Website Links

Boroughs and townships are required by their codes to have an annual audit made by: (1) three elected
auditors, or (2) an elected controller, or (3) under certain circumstances, certified public accountants or public
accountants who may be appointed to make the audit. 6-year or 2-year terms.

An auditor reviews, adjusts and settles the accounts of the tax collectors, the magisterial district judge and all officers of the borough. An auditor may audit, adjust and settle the accounts of any person, corporation, association, organization, committee or commission receiving or expending borough funds. An auditor audits and reports the accounts of every officer of a borough, upon the death, resignation, removal or expiration of the term of the officer. An auditor may suggest plans to the council for the management and improvement of the borough finances.

Auditor’s Pay:
*SB 740, the auditor pay raise bill, was signed into law by Gov. Josh Shapiro as Act 10 of 2024. Act 10 amended the Second Class Township Code to authorize the board of supervisors to increase the compensation for the elected auditors by resolution from $10 per hour to up to $18 per hour for performing the annual audit and the other duties of office and increased the permitted amount of total compensation. See Act 10 for full explanation of compensation for Auditors

Administrative tasks: such as approving expenditures and enforcing ordinances

Policymaking: develop and adopt policies for the township, including ordinances and resolutions 

Budgeting: create the township’s budget and establish tax rates 

Hiring: appoint department directors and other township staff 

Strategic planning: evaluate the township’s priorities and make decisions to shape its future 

Community representation: act as a liaison between the township and its citizens, addressing concerns and representing the township’s interests 

Constables are elected at the municipal level, however, State law governs Constables.
Constables have statewide authority, their title is “State Constable.”
Constables belong to the executive branch of state government.

Constables are empowered to enforce both criminal and civil laws.

Constables primarily serve the courts out the business of the
statewide Magisterial District Court System:
Serving warrants of arrest, mental health warrants
Transporting prisoners
Service of summons, complaints, subpoenas
Enforcing protection from abuse orders, orders of eviction and judgement levies

A Constable is a sworn Law Enforcement/Peace Officer who can arrest for felony crimes and breaches of the peace committed in his presence, or by warrant anywhere in the commonwealth.

Constables are also charged with maintaining order at the election polls and ensuring that no qualified elector is obstructed from voting.  Constables are the only law enforcement officials permitted at the polls on election day. 

Constables do not receive a set salary. They are paid only for each task performed for the District Court.

Fees charged by constables are set by state law.
Civil service fees are paid by the plaintiff at no cost to the taxpayer.
Summary warrant fees are paid for by the defendant, normally at no cost to the taxpayer.

Constables purchase all of their own equipment to perform their job. This includes uniforms, firearm, vehicles with safety devices, restraint devices, office supplies, vehicle and liability insurance and any other cost associated with the job. Taxpayers do not shoulder this burden and do not normally pay any hourly rate to the Constable. A $5.00 fee is added to defendants costs that go into a training fund administered by the state. That fund provides free training to all Constables at no cost to the taxpayer. Because Constables do not receive an hourly rate and operate on a piece rate basis, Constables must be ACTIVE in serving process to be successful and to provide good service to the Magisterial District Court.

(Police officers are empowered to enforce criminal and traffic laws.  A Sheriff is the chief law enforcement officer of the County and is empowered to enforce criminal, civil, and traffic laws.)

Both Allentown and Bethlehem have an elected Controller. Specific information for both of those offices can be found on each of the city’s websites: City of Allentown — Controller ▪ City of Bethlehem — Controller

Boroughs and townships are required by their codes to have an annual audit made by: (1) three elected
auditors, or (2) an elected controller, or (3) under certain circumstances, certified public accountants or public
accountants who may be appointed to make the audit.

All of the boroughs and townships in Lehigh County have an elected auditor, none have an elected controller.

The Tax Collector collects all county, township, school, institution district and other taxes levied within boroughs and townships by authorities authorized to levy taxes. 

Lehigh County List of Tax Collectors Offices by Municipality (Lehigh County Website)

Map of all Lehigh County Municipalities with Tax Collector information (Lehigh County Website)

The City of Bethlehem has an elected Treasurer, who serves a four-year term. The Treasurer receives and disburses public money and receives money collected by the departments of the City government for deposit. The Treasurer disburses all City funds in accordance with warrants presented to him by the City Controller and the head of the City department or office requesting such disbursement.

Resources and Local Government Associations

Lehigh County League of Women Voters Government Directory
Pennsylvania Municipal League nonprofit, nonpartisan organization representing participating Pennsylvania cities, boroughs, townships and home rule communities that all share The League’s municipal policy interests. 
Local Government Advisory Committee (LGAC) PA Department of Community & Economic Development
Citizen’s Guide to Pennsylvania Local Government publication of the PA Department of Community & Economic Development (PDF Download)
Reporters Guide to Pennsylvania Local Government pennreporter.wordpress.com
Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors PSATS offers its members exclusive access to training, resources, and events via the member portal at PSATS.org .PSATS Legislative Priorities

PENN STATE ONLINE COURSE Getting Involved in Your Pennsylvania Local Government Learn how local government in Pennsylvania works, explore ways to become involved, and gain the tools needed to run for office. 3-Hour online course, with certificate of completion. Group rates available. Course is always available. Cost $51.75

Sources: PA Department of Community & Economic Development’s Citizen’s Guide to Pennsylvania Local Government and Local Government Laws in Pennsylvania; Lehigh County League of Women Voters’ Municipality Directory; Lehigh County LWV Local Elected Office Job Descriptions; LCDC Local Government Primer for Lehigh County