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 Is NOT…

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

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 American City & County

Year House Built Source: City-data.com 1939 or earlier 1950 to to to to 2000 Lackawanna County Pennsylvania average

Lackawanna County Population 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 ServiceHighest $MedianLowest $ 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 Public Works$441.44$94.61$19.51 Data: DCED Audit Reports (excludes Scranton) <2,000 population

Per Capita Spending on Gov’t Services in Lackawanna County (excludes Scranton) ServiceHighest $MedianLowest $ Solid Waste$169.12$13.11$0 Culture & Rec$110.23$10.87$0 Libraries$90.32$0 Debt Service$382.71$22.10$0 Total expenditures$1,766.96$438.62$ Total taxes$516$226$78 <2,000 population

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 commission8% Planning commissions occasionally meet together 7% Development plans are referred to other municipalities 13% Informal communications29% Contact through County Planning Commission26% Does not interact with other planning commissions 36% 2001 PSU land use effectiveness study

Communication WITHIN the Municipality Does … provides information to governing body78% … meets on regular basis with governing body23% …recommends improvements or capital project for Comprehensive Plan 33% ….sends plans to water or sewer authority for comments40% … 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?