7. Intergovernmental Coordination-Interlocal

Question 1

True or False: Local governments are not provided for in the constitution

Answer 1

True

Question 2

The following sub-state remedies have been developed without the benefit of constitutional guidance

Answer 2

1. City-county consolidation
2. Councils of government
3. Special districts
4. Annexation
5. Inter-local contracting

Question 3

City-County consolidation

Answer 3

involves the consolidation of one or more municipalities within a single county to form one county-wide governmental structure

Question 4

True or false: Texas doesn’t have any city-county consolidations

Answer 4

True

Question 5

One of the most recent and successful consolidations (1997) is between

Answer 5

Kansas City and Wyandotte County, KS

Question 6

Only X% of City-County consolidation attempts have actually succeeded

Answer 6

18%

Question 7

Consolidation is to

Answer 7

collapse all (or as many as possible) local jurisdictions within a county into a single county-wide government

Question 8

Advantages of city-county consolidation

Answer 8

reduces costs, saves money, results in more equitable distribution of resources

Question 9

Disadvantages of city-county consolidation

Answer 9

Voters are reluctant to give up local control; It’s very hard to implement

Question 10

Councils of Government are

Answer 10

volunteer organizations of local governments to discuss regional issues

Question 11

Before 1950, there were no COGs. Now there are

Answer 11

600. 24 of these are in Texas

Question 12

True or False: COGs can levy taxes

Answer 12

False. COGS do not levy taxes, pass laws or provide direct citizen services

Question 13

COGs typically do these things

Answer 13

Conduct area-wide land use and transportation planning; Share expertise with local governments; Provide personnel training for PD and FD; Help federal governments review local government applications for funding.

Question 14

Most COGs have this governance structure

Answer 14

an executive committee, elected from the general assembly that meets monthly; Most COGs also have a full-time director and a professional staff.

Question 15

Portland, OR’s COG is known as

Answer 15

Metro

Question 16

Best example of a quasi-regional government

Answer 16

Portland, OR’s COG-Metro

Question 17

The Metro general assembly is directly elected by:

Answer 17

residents of the various areas served.

Question 18

True of False: Portland’s Metro has some taxing authority

Answer 18

True. It is responsible for region-wide services in land use planning, parks & rec, garbage and hazardous waste management.

Question 19

True or False: Metro (Portland) is an exception to most COGs

Answer 19

True. Most COGs are largely ineffective in providing true regional governance.

Question 20

Special Districts

Answer 20

Uni-functional governments-they exist to perform a single function, such as natural resources, fire protection, water supply, housing, etc.

Question 21

True or False: Special Districts have the power to tax and spend.

Answer 21

True. In addition to taxes, some raise revenue through bonds, user feels or sales of services such as water.

Question 22

A local example of a Special District

Answer 22

DART. Provides and manages public transportation for Dallas and 12 surrounding cities. Authority to levy 1 cent sales tax for buses, light rail, computer rail, high occupancy vehicle lanes.

Question 23

True or False: Special Districts are easily formed.

Answer 23

True. They cross governmental boundaries, often have taxing authority and can circumvent tax limitations.

Question 24

Special Districts are problematic because

Answer 24

they tend to be invisible to citizens; are isolated from democratic government; add to fragmentation and expense.

Question 25

Interlocal Contracting

Answer 25

When states contract with each other to avoid duplication of services or to share costs such as personnel/buildings/equipment.

Question 26

In Texas, inter-local contracting activities are governed by

Answer 26

The Inter-local Cooperation Act of 1971

Question 27

Three types of interlocal contracts

Answer 27

1. Services provided by one jurisdiction to another for a fee.
2. Joint enterprise agreements where jurisdictions pool resources.
3. Stand by arrangements-PD, FD, EOC

Question 28

The typical Texas city today is engaged in about this many interlocal contracts

Answer 28

Two dozen; More for larger cities.

Question 29

Disadvantages of Interlocal contracts

Answer 29

1. uncertainty about legal authority
2. Poor performance of contractors
3. Loss of independence
4. Difficult to break contracts
5. Lack of democratic accountability.

Question 30

Annexation

Answer 30

A city absorbs or incorporates adjacent unincorporated territory.

Question 31

True or false: Texas has one of the most liberal and generous annexation laws in the country

Answer 31

True. Younger southern and western cities are more able to annex because they’re more likely to be surrounded by large tracts of unincorporated land.

Question 32

The Municipal Annexation Act (1963)

Answer 32

Every city over 1,500 in population was given a ring of ETJ;
Within the ETJ, no new cities could be incorporated;
A city could annex up to 10% of it’s ETJ land each year;
Annexation is done by city ordinance-those annexed have no say;
Annexing city must provide full city services within 3 years.

Question 33

The 1989 extension of the annexation law

Answer 33

Required cities to provide water and sewer service to an annexed area within 2.5 years-even if they weren’t provided to their own residents.

Question 34

The 1999 annexation act required

Answer 34

cities to adopt an annexation plan, identifying annexations that are likely to occur within a 3 year period. Must wait 3 years to annex after inclusion in the plan and must provide PD, FD services immediately to annexed land.

Question 35

Reasons cities like to annex

Answer 35

1. increase tax base
2. respond to pressure by developers
3. manage the city’s current and future growth patterns.