Transcript Intergovernmental Cooperation

Intergovernmental
Cooperation
Timothy W. Kelsey, Ph.D.
Professor of Agricultural Economics
Cooperative Extension
Is this anything
new?
Agenda
 What
is Intergovernmental
Cooperation?
 Why
consider doing this?
 How
to do it
Intergovernmental
Cooperation
Consolidation
The Ideal…
• For services where it makes sense…
 Provide services more effectively and
cost efficiently than you can do alone
 Provide higher quality services than
you can do alone
• Maintain local autonomy & decision-
making
Why Consider
Doing This?
You’re Already Involved with
Your Neighbors
Local Tax Dollars Collected,
Lackawanna County
Municipalities
17%
School
Districts
83%
Your residents are already
‘intergovernmentally
connected”
Why municipal officials need
to work with school districts
Local Governments:
Planning authority that affects where
people live, work, play, what services are
needed
School Districts:
Educate the children living in the district
Municipal Cost Index
250
200
150
100
50
20
08
20
06
20
04
20
02
20
00
19
98
19
96
19
94
19
92
19
90
19
88
0
American City & County
Year House Built
1999 to
2000
1990 to
1994
1970 to
1979
Lackawanna County
1950 to
1959
1939 or
earlier
Pennsylvania average
Source: City-data.com
Lackawanna County Population
350000
300000
250000
200000
150000
100000
50000
19
00
19
10
19
20
19
30
19
40
19
50
19
60
19
70
19
80
19
90
20
00
20
07
0
U.S. Census
Population drives…
•Demands for services
But fixed costs for infrastructure?
•Ability to get revenues
•Ability to spread costs
•Whether able to provide at low
per-user cost
Economies of Scale
• There are cost savings for
some services if have more
users
• Savings varies by service,
quality provided, location,
infrastructure needed
Costs of government
services vary
dramatically
Per Capita Spending on Gov’t
Services in Lackawanna County
(excludes Scranton)
Service
<2,000 population
Highest $
Median Lowest $
General Gov’t
$241.95
$55.52
$20.77
Police
$176.80
$50.80
$0
Fire
$79.31
$20.52
$5.61
Code Enforcement
$60.20
$2.96
$0
$441.44
$94.61
$19.51
Public Works
Data: DCED Audit Reports 2006
http://munstatspa.dced.state.pa.us/Reports.aspx
Per Capita Spending on Gov’t
Services in Lackawanna County
(excludes Scranton)
Service
<2,000 population
Highest $
Median Lowest $
Solid Waste
$169.12
$13.11
$0
Culture & Rec
$110.23
$10.87
$0
$90.32
$0
$0
$382.71
$22.10
$0
$1,766.96
$438.62
$120.11
$516
$226
$78
Libraries
Debt Service
Total expenditures
Total taxes
How to do Intergovernmental
Cooperation?
•Build upon existing relationships &
activities
•Start small
•Look for common interests and ‘problems’
•Don’t forget looking inside, too!
Communication WITH OTHER
Jurisdictions
Does
Member of joint planning commission
8%
Planning commissions occasionally meet
together
7%
Development plans are referred to other
municipalities
13%
Informal communications
29%
Contact through County Planning Commission
26%
Does not interact with other planning
commissions
36%
2001 PSU land use effectiveness study
Communication WITHIN the
Municipality
Does
… provides information to governing body
78%
… meets on regular basis with governing body
23%
…recommends improvements or capital project for
Comprehensive Plan
33%
….sends plans to water or sewer authority for comments
40%
… provides authority copies of new plans & land use
ordinances
26%
… meets authority to discuss water and sewer needs in the
municipality
25%
2001 PSU land use effectiveness study
How to do Intergovernmental
Cooperation?
•Build upon existing relationships &
activities
•Start small
•Look for common interests and ‘problems’
•Don’t forget looking inside, too!
•Engage the public!
Engage the Public
• Ask them - does it matter to them? Why?
• How are they affected?
• Do they care?
You’ll likely find…most citizens don’t
care about municipal boundaries – they
care about the services they get, and the
taxes they pay
What Works? Examples

Informally lend equipment?

Purchase some supplies together?

Talk with officials from other local
governments?

Are served by water or sewer authorities
that cross municipal boundaries?

Share support for libraries or parks?