Voters in the City of DuBois and Sandy Township approve consolidation of the two municipalities

• Min Xian/SpotlightPA
  BioRecent Stories

  

  Local Accountability Reporter
  Email: mxian@spotlightpa.org
  Twitter: @minxian_
  Telephone: (267) 618-6677
  Signal: (267) 618-6677
  Focus: Local government accountability
  
  Central and northern Pennsylvania is home to vast natural beauty, historic towns with changing economies, and a diverse mix of social-political values. Xian reports on how local governments are run and how public dollars are spent, with a focus on how public and private forces shape ordinary life in this region.
  
  Before joining Spotlight PA, Xian covered local government and rural issues for the region’s NPR affiliate, WPSU. Originally from southern China, she has called State College home since 2013.
  

 WPSU

Voters in the City of DuBois and nearby Sandy Township in Clearfield County voted in favor of consolidating the two municipalities, according to unofficial results of the 2021 Municipal Elections Tuesday.

(State College) – Voters in the City of DuBois and nearby Sandy Township in Clearfield County voted in favor of consolidating the two municipalities, according to unofficial results of the 2021 Municipal Elections Tuesday.

The merger passed in DuBois by more than a two-to-one margin with 1,228 votes for and 536 against. It narrowly passed in Sandy Township, whose largest community is Treasure Lake, by 1,574 to 1,541. Passage in both municipalities was required for the consolidation.

Proponents of the merger, like Sandy Township Supervisor Sam Mollica, who led a petition to get the question on the ballot this year, previously told WPSU a consolidation would reduce redundancy in services and save taxpayer money.

“We have common interest here in Dubois and Sandy. We’re already one community now, so I don’t see why it would hurt to become one community in reality as far as the government is,” Mollica said.

The consolidation of Sandy, with a population of about 10,500, and DuBois, a city of about 7,500, will create a new third class city under the DuBois name with a seven-member council under the Home Rule Charter.

This is the fourth time a consolidation has been proposed. The question of consolidation was approved three times by city residents and rejected three times by township voters in 1989, 1995 and 2002.

Sometimes, your mornings are just too busy to catch the news beyond a headline or two. Don’t worry. The Morning Agenda has got your back. Each weekday morning, host Tim Lambert will keep you informed, amused, enlightened and up-to-date on what’s happening in central Pennsylvania and the rest of this great commonwealth.

Learn More