Hillsborough seeks to expand commission

• A bill moving through the state Legislature could change that.

Driving the news: State Rep. Michael Owen (R) — who served until last year as a county commissioner — filed a bill that, if passed, would place an amendment on November's ballot to increase the size of the board.

• The board would grow from seven to nine members, each representing their own district. (Currently, four commissioners represent districts while three are countywide.)
• According to an analysis, the change could cost upward of $2.3 million.

What they're saying: Republican Commissioners Ken Hagan, Christine Miller, Joshua Wostal and Christopher Boles are all in favor of the change.

• "When commissioners are directly responsible to a defined constituency, voters know exactly who to turn to, and officials are better positioned to address neighborhood needs," Boles told Axios.
• "The estimated startup costs are modest relative to the county's overall budget and are an investment in more effective governance," he added.

The other side: Commissioner Donna Cameron Cepeda (R) prefers seven single-member districts, saying they provide better and more cost-effective representation while protecting small communities.

• Democratic Commissioners Gwen Myers and Harry Cohen, meanwhile, don't believe the amendment is needed.
• "This change would result in less representation for more money," Cohen told Axios.  "It would increase the size of government while giving each citizen direct access to just one commissioner instead of four."

What's next: The bill has two more committee stops before it reaches the House floor and would then need approval from the Senate.

• Then, it would be left for voters to decide.