pros

Home Rule vs Dillon’s Rule

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There are two categories of state governments as it relates to local governments:

  • Home Rule: States that give local governments wide latitude to decide which policies are appropriate for their communities
  • Dillon’s Rule: States that give limited powers to local government to make decide which policies are appropriate for their communities

5 Percent

No states fall clearly in on category or another as it’s more of a continuum then definite categories. Indeed, when states choose how much to empower local governments they must consider a variety of factors such as:

  • Impact of one town or city’s decisions on surrounding communities
  • Citizens that travel through one community or reside their temporarily for work, recreation, or other activities, but due to lack residency have no voice in that government
  • Involvement and awareness of a community’s citizens in governments
  • Fairness between wealthier and poorer communities
  • State-wide goals for various programs

25 Most Densely Population Municipalities in New York State

Certainly some things really ought to be decided on a local level, under Home Rule, by an informed citizens and their representatives:

  • The rate of property taxation and structure of fees paid exclusively by local residents and businesses
  • The level of government services provided to local citizens and businesses
  • The design and management of local service roads and streets
  • The creation of local laws and policies, as long as much local laws and policies are made clear to visitors using signs or other documentation

Fountains

On the other hand, there is a compelling case to reserve some powers to states under Dillion’s Rule to ensure fairness both to local residents and more importantly, largely voiceless visitors to a community.

  • A state bill of rights must exist to ensure that local governments both treat their citizens fairly, and most importantly visitors to the community fairly
  • Local laws need to consistent enough so that visitors know what to reasonably expect when visit a community and require
  • Inter-community highways need to be regulated by the state to promote the quick and convenient movement of goods and people.

The Pros and Cons of Getting a Camping Permit

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New York State requires you to get a camping permit if you stay in a spot or a campsite for more then 3 nights. I have never bothered to get a permit, unless the rare times I see a forest ranger, and he asks me to fill out a camping permit. I generally do not get camping permits, because I don’t stay more then 3 nights in any one spot – if I was a hunter, setting up a base camp in big game season – it might be different.

Pros.

  • It shows that you are using the land, providing justification for the DEC to spend more funding on that piece of land versus another piece of land.
  • It’s nice to stay at one site for an extend period, if you plan to stay in that general area, so you don’t have to pick up and remake camp every couple of night.
  • You don’t have to necessarily camp at a designated spot or farther then 150 feet from road or water if you get the permit for another place.
  • In case you are reported lost or injured, the forest ranger knows where to look.
  • There is no charge, and all you have to do give forest ranger a call with your license plate and other basic information.

Tent

Cons.

  • You have to plan where you are going a couple of weeks in advance to give the forest ranger a change to mail you the perm
  • Staying in one place leads to more wear on the campsite.
  • It can be be boring to camp in one site for an extended period.
  • Do you really want to tell the government where your camping, so it can track you?

Camping Down By Otter Brook

… in many ways the cons are longer then the pros.