This is the first in a short series of posts on the downsides of city-county consolidation. Actually, it might better be described as a discussion of some of the pros and cons of "big box" vs. "small box" municipal government. It is similar to business. It seems like every large business is either doing one of two things: centralizing or decentralizing. There's a sort of cycle of reincarnation about this. Every model has its flaws, and people tend to gravitate towards the other side of the spectrum from time to time when the problems of the … [Read more...]
An Examination of City-County Consolidation
[ This piece will serve as a warm-up to a forthcoming series on the downsides of the consolidation of US city and county governments. I updated it from the original with a bit of information about the current mayoral election in Louisville. ] H. V. Savitch and Ronald K. Vogel of the University of Louisville authored the paper "Suburbs Without a City", analyzing the merger of Louisville and Jefferson County, and in the process making many good observations about or relevant to other consolidated cities like Indianapolis and … [Read more...]
Mega-Skepticism
[ This post inaugurates a three part series on "megaregions" and the applicability of this concept to the Midwest. It is a repeat of something I wrote on the subject a bit over a year ago. That should lay the ground work. Part two of the series will be a review of the book "Megaregions", edited by Catherine L. Ross. The third part will be some thinking on ways the Midwest might be able to apply megaregional thinking to its problems. As you will see, I come to this subject as a skeptic. This post originally ran on July 11, 2008] There … [Read more...]
Principles of Privatization – Part 4: Guidelines for Action
I'll conclude my series on privatization with a series of guidelines for action or best practices you should look at to determine if privatization is right. I take a pragmatic view on this. The private sector and government are always going to work together. We just need to make sure we do it right. I had a list of considerations I had developed it, and supplemented it some insights from Indianapolis blogger Paul Ogden. Ogden is a strident populist Republican who used to favor privatization but is now mostly skeptical. Even if you don't go for … [Read more...]
Principles of Privatization – Part 3: Uses of Funds
Continuing my look at privatization transactions, this installment focuses on appropriate uses of funds. Some types of privatization involve paying a third party to deliver an outsourced service. If, by outsourcing, you are able to save money and get better service, great. If you are able to realize recurring savings from this, then you can put that money to use in many potential ways: special projects, new services, tax cuts, or making up for cost increases elsewhere. I'm going to focus on non-recurring revenue, the type realized from … [Read more...]
Principles of Privatization – Part 2: Value Levers
Continuing with my series on privatization of government services, today I look at the question of how privatization creates value. You can also read part one on the types of transactions. While a few people just don't like the government doing things on principle, most of the time privatization - again, undertaken by both Democrats and Republicans - is touted has having benefits to the tax payer. There are three basic ways this can happen: new revenues, reduced cost, or improved service. New Revenue Many governments are attracted to … [Read more...]
Principles of Privatization – Part 1: Taxonomy of Transactions
This post kicks off a multi-part series on the principles of privatization. Cities and states across America have been looking at various types of privatization programs to save money or raise money in a tough economy. This has been surprisingly non-partisan, with proponents and opponents scattered across both parties. Democrat Mayor Richard Daley is a huge fan, as is Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels in Indiana. Democrat Gov. Ed Rendell pushed a toll road privatization. The Republican administration in the city of Indianapolis is looking at … [Read more...]
End Property Tax Collection in Arrears
Jim Meredith over at Archizoo bemoans the state of retail overbuilding in America and looks at ways to prevent it. These range from "certificates of need" as some states require for hospital expansion to new zoning standards. Take a look for yourself. This reminds me that I've been remiss in following up on my "Buildings Suburbs That Last" series. So look for more installments of that shortly. This post isn't per se about that, but does talk about how we discourage overbuilding. In some states - and I don't have a full list, but know it … [Read more...]
Carmel: Leadership in Action, Part Three
This is the third and final installment in my series on leadership in Carmel, Indiana. Click to read Part One and Part Two. This one is dedicated to the critics. Like any leader, Carmel and Mayor Brainard have had both those who've strongly praised them and those who hate them. That's ok. Leadership itself often polarizes and every good leader has been besieged by critics. Of course, not all leaders lead in the right direction and sometimes the critics are right. So let's listen to them. Criticism falls into three main categories: The … [Read more...]
Carmel: Leadership in Action, Part One
Carmel, Indiana is an Indianapolis suburb just across the northern border into Hamilton County. It has long been one of the premier addresses in the region, and clearly the most upscale suburb. The person who used to run the Indianapolis office of my company once remarked that he's never lived in another city where there was just one "rich suburb". When you think of wealthy communities in Indiana, it is Carmel and only Carmel that comes to mind. And believe me, most people in the state know it. So this is a town that attracts a unique type of … [Read more...]
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