1 Local Government Institutions Richard C. Feiock May 2009 LeRoy Collins Institute LeRoy Collins Institute ~ Carol Weissert, Ph. D., Director FSU Campus ~ 506 W Pensacola Street Tallahassee FL ~ fax

2 Ongoing Work on Local Governance Institutions –Data Collection of Local Political Systems and Institutions –Survey of Intergovernmental Collaboration LeRoy Collins Institute

3 Political Institutions - What is being studied? –Forms of Government –Council Structure and Representation –Direct Democracy Provisions –Turnover in Office LeRoy Collins Institute

4 Political Institutions - Why are they important? –Performance and Decision making Incentives Motivations Time Horizons/ Uncertainty –Institutional Change or Reform LeRoy Collins Institute

5 Political Institutions - Data Collection Strategy –Longitudinal information for 30 years –City and County Level –Five Stage Process ICMA surveys at 5 year intervals FLC and FAC annual directories Online Search Municipal Code Charter Search Interviews with City/County Clerks LeRoy Collins Institute

6 Intergovernmental Collaboration - What is being studied? –Multiple Related Service Areas Economic Development Land Use Energy/Resource Management –Forms of Collaboration Contracts Interlocal Agreements LeRoy Collins Institute

7 Intergovernmental Collaboration: Why is it important? 1.Performance and Efficiency –Intergovernmental spillovers –Economies of scale 2. Institutional Change or Reform LeRoy Collins Institute

8 Intergovernmental Collaboration - Data Collection Strategy –Internet/Mail Survey –All Local Governments in Metropolitan Areas –Time Line Fall 2009: Implement Survey Spring 2010: Merge data and conduct analysis Summer 2010: Final Report LeRoy Collins Institute