Metropolitan Fragmentation and Metropolitan Reform

Three Key Questions What is Metro fragmentation? What are the 2 positions regarding metro fragmentation? What proposals have been offered to restructure the multi-centered metropolis and deal with fragmentation?

Fragmentation: Definition The Proliferation of Local Governments in a Geographic Region (4 forms). –Increased # of Incorporated Communities –Overlapping of city and county functions –Existence of special districts –Extension of cross-state boundaries in MSA without concern for state lines

Fragmentation in General: Median Metro Area Total Number of Governments: 104 –Counties:2 –Cities24 –Towns, townships16 –School Districts19 –Special Districts43

Fragmentation in Clark County: # of Governments County1 Cities2 Villages9 Townships10 School Districts 8 (inc. JVS) Special Districts 9 –Total # of Governments= 39

Clark County Fragmentation in Comparison to All Ohio Counties Total Number of Taxing Districts in Clark County = 57 Ave. number of Taxing Districts in Ohio’s 88 Counties = 50; range=18-133

Reformers (e.g., David Rusk) Confusion in the responsibility for services Reductions in political scrutiny and control (undemocratic) Political Unresponsiveness Duplication of Effort Inequities in revenue and policy Inefficiencies, therefore most costly

Decentralists (e.g., Charles Tiebout) Suburban residents tend to be more concerned with incremental changes Efficiency is not the only value, e.g., access and lifestyle issues Public Choice School of Thought Centralization frustrates democracy Less costly due to smaller

Annexation Strategies Most prevalent prior to WWI, but became harder due to stringent state laws requiring simultaneous majorities Largely a Southern and Southwestern phenomenon (extraterritorial jurisdiction, and spoke/finger annexation—Houston)

City-County Consolidation Only 4 have occurred involving more than 250,000 Again, a Southern phenomenon: Baton Rouge—3 service zones: urban, rural, industrial Reasons for success: –Some basic service has not being provided, or had broken down –Special political factors (corruption—Jacksonville, unpopular politicians—Nashville, significant change in partisan leadership—Indianapolis) –Small Number of incorporated suburbs

Strengthening Urban County Government Problems with traditional county government— Row officers Need for professional management Use of more home rule charters: Broward County, FL (Ft. Lauderdale)

Two-Tier/Federative Reform Basic notion is that the county will work on system-maintenance services and municipals will provide lifestyle services. Miami-Dade; Minneapolis-St. Paul; Portland

Incremental Options Metropolitan Planning: Federal incentives and the A-95 process Advocacy Planning Councils of Governments (COGs) Central City decentralization (Berry, Portney, & Thomsan) One size does not fit all. States must help. David Rusk: Win-win annexation