Robert C. Rush
With the existence of the Lancaster County Human Relations Commission hanging in the balance, its board chairman has offered to cut the commission's 2011 budget by 21 percent.
Robert C. Rush informed the county commissioners in a letter dated July 23 that the Human Relations Commission could cut its proposed spending for next year from $474,680 to $373,468.
The savings could be achieved by not replacing an administrative secretary who is retiring and by reducing a full-time position to part time.
"As there is obvious growing support and concern for sustaining this commission, this budget reduction represents a solid, good-faith effort to offer significant budget savings while continuing to maintain a valuable resource for the citizens, employers and workforce of Lancaster County," Rush wrote in his letter.
Commissioner Craig Lehman, who had asked Rush to try to find some cost savings, announced the proposed budget reduction Tuesday — two days before a public hearing scheduled by the county commissioners to explore the possibility of abolishing the local Human Relations Commission.
Commissioners Chairman Scott Martin, who proposed the abolishment, said cutting costs is irrelevant, although he has said that would be a benefit of eliminating the commission.
"First and foremost, the issue is whether or not there is a duplication of services," Martin said. "Are we being taxed once for a service that we're not getting back and then a second time for the convenience of having it here?"
Martin has said he believes the state Human Relations Commission could handle the duties performed by the county agency.
Lehman said he reached out to Rush about trimming costs because, while he wants the local commission to continue fighting discrimination in employment, housing, education, public accommodations and lending on behalf of county residents, he is a proponent of efficient government.
"Since I think it's reasonable to take a look at efficiency reviews across county government, it seemed reasonable to not have the Human Relations Commission be an exception to that," he said.
Lehman has said he believes a Human Relations Commission headquartered in Lancaster can better serve Lancaster County residents than a state agency based in Harrisburg.
In the letter he sent to Rush on July 14, Lehman suggested the commission try to reduce its costs by 15 to 25 percent "while maintaining critical core services," the letter stated.
"I view this as a good-faith effort," Lehman said of Rush's proposal.
Rush explained in his letter to the commissioners that the cuts he's proposing won't come without repercussions.
"While it is difficult to determine the precise impact on the greater Lancaster County community and its employers, it is our belief that investigations and resolutions of complaints would be slowed by about that same percentage — 20 percent," he wrote.
"The implications of this slowdown could potentially lead to continued illegal discrimination practices … ," he continued.
In 2009, the commission received 150 complaints, 28 of which led to fact-finding conferences. The commission closed 67 cases, more than half of which were found to have "no probable cause."
Since word began spreading a month ago about Martin's proposal to abolish the commission, individuals and community groups have been lining up to voice their opposition.
Lancaster County Council of Churches, the county Democratic Committee, The Lancaster Chamber of Commerce and Lancaster branch of NAACP are among those who say the commission should stay.
Martin acknowledges there are a lot of people who strongly support the commission. He said he's also heard from many county residents who think abolishing the commission is a good idea.
Martin said he wants facts. And he's counting on getting them Thursday at the public hearing scheduled for 7 p.m. in the county's administration building at 150 N. Queen St.
"There's a lot of questions that need to be answered," he said. "At the end of the day, we don't make decisions based on emotions — we make them based on facts."
At the hearing, deputy county solicitor Nicole Decker is scheduled to describe what state law says about the function of the state Human Relations Commission.
James Laughman, the county's human services lead, then is expected to look at the services provided by the state agency compared to the county agency.
"I think everyone agrees, between the two entities, absolutely there's no loss of rights whatsoever," Martin said.
"As a matter of fact, what you'll end up seeing on Thursday is the state Human Relations Commission actually protects against discrimination in more areas than our local commission does.
"The true argument should be focused on the process part of it and balance that out with, 'Is that worth the almost half-million dollars that we're paying?' "
After Decker and Laughman speak, Martin said, the floor will be open for anyone to offer comments.
So far, 16 people representing a variety of organizations and interests have signed up to speak.
The room where the hearing will be held holds 300 people, and Martin said he's expecting a full house.
The commissioners will not vote on the fate of the commission Thursday night.