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LOCAL GOVERNMENTS Objectives Analyze the forms, structure, powers and roles of local government...
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Transcript of LOCAL GOVERNMENTS Objectives Analyze the forms, structure, powers and roles of local government...
LOCAL GOVERNMENTSObjectives
• Analyze the forms, structure, powers and roles of local government
• Special districts, governance funding and purpose (e.g., school, sanitation, water, fire, library, community college)
• Mayor, council, city manager, and other city officials (Strong v Weak)
• Answer the question “what is my role in local government”
Arizona ConstitutionCounties & Municipalities
• State constitution includes provisions Municipal (local) governments
• Basic principles regarding County governments are found in Article 12 of the Arizona Constitution
• Current laws regarding Arizona counties are contained in Title 11 of the Arizona Revised Statutes
Counties
• Arizona ranks 40th in number of local governments.
• 645 (as of 2007) • Of the aforementioned 15 are county
governments• There are no areas in Arizona lacking
county government.• The county governing body is called the
“Board of supervisors”• http://www.census.gov/govs/www/
Cities & Towns
• Currently 90 incorporated municipal governments (cities and towns) in Arizona
• Provide a wide variety of direct services. • Basic principles of these municipal
governments are found in Article 13 of the Arizona Constitution.
• Current laws regarding Arizona cities and towns are found in Title 9 of the Arizona Revised Statutes.
Cities & Towns
• Municipal governments in Arizona include cities and towns.
• There are no significant differences in population, legal powers, or status between city and town governments
• Minimum population requirement for incorporation is 1,500.
Special Districts
• Many different types of special districts
• Special districts deal with only one thing
• Special districts in Arizona are considered governments all 301!!
• Examples: Agriculture Preservation Districts, Fire Districts, Community Park Maintenance Districts Encompassing an Area of 160 Acres or more
Special Districts
• Flood Protection Districts, Drainage Districts, Groundwater Replenishment Districts, Electrical Districts, Health Service Districts, Pest Abatement Districts, Pest Control Districts, Sanitary Districts Encompassing an Area of 160 Acres or More…
• I think you get the idea, however
Issues with Special Districts
• Each District or governing body tends to look at problems from its own narrow, partial perspective.
• As a result, local bodies fail to cooperate with one another and plan effectively for the region's future needs.
• Many believe this fragmented nature of local governments leads to racial and class inequalities.
Issues (cont)
• On a brighter note• Council of governments (COG) exists
where officials from various localities meet to discuss mutual problems and plan joint, cooperative action.
• The reality • COG’s are often formally very weak, under
funded, poorly staffed, and lacking in any real legislative or taxing power.
Moving Up the Food Chain3 Basic Forms of Municipal
Government• Council Manager • Newest of the three major forms of city
government• Council-manager used by cities of all sizes • Most popular form in cities of more than 10,000
population. • This form operates with a city council as a policy
body and a city manager as the chief executive-administrative officer of city government.
• Degrees in public or business administration.
Council Manager (cont)
• In the council-manager form of government, the council is the governing body of the city
• Council is elected by the public, and the manager is hired by council
• Managers mandate is to carry out the policies it (council) establishes.
• The council usually consists of five to nine members including a mayor (or council president)
Council Manager (cont)
• Members either selected by the council or elected by the people as defined in the city charter.
• The size of the council is generally smaller than that of a mayor-council municipality,
• Council elections are usually nonpartisan.
• How many members are Tucson’s city council?
Council Manager (cont)
• The council provides legislative direction
• Manager is responsible for day-to-day administrative operation of the city
• This is based on the council’s recommendations
• The mayor and council as a collegial body are responsible for setting policy, approving the budget, and determining the tax rate.
Council Manager (cont)
• The manager serves as the council’s chief advisor.
• Managers also serve at the pleasure of the council and are responsible for preparing the budget, directing day-to-day operations, and hiring and firing personnel.
• Typically, the mayor is recognized as the political head of the municipality,
• However he/she is a member of the legislative body and does not have the power to veto legislative actions.
Mayor-Council/Council-MayorWeak versus Strong
• Let us start with the weak • Council/Mayor• Council possesses both legislative and
executive authority• Council may appoint officials • Council must approve mayoral
nominations• Council also exercises primary control
over municipal budget
Mayor-Council/Council-MayorWeak versus Strong
• Though mayor is elected has very little political power
• (mayor) less independent under this form• Mainly ceremonial in nature • May even be a member of the council• The weak-mayor plan is a product of
Jacksonian democracy • Few powers combined with many checks
results in relatively little damage
Mayor-Council/Council-MayorWeak versus Strong
• Most often used in small towns
• Variation of the city commission government
• Introduced by the British in India
• Used in Provincial government
• Commissioner had same powers as district officer and other local authorities
Mayor-Council/Council-MayorWeak versus Strong
• Known as the strong mayor or executive form
• Consists of a popularly elected executive branch and legislative branch
• Translation city mayor and city council
• Unicameral system
• Define the above
Mayor-Council/Council-MayorWeak versus Strong
• In the strong form the mayor is given almost total administrative authority
• Also very wide range of political independence.
• Has power to appoint and dismiss department heads without council input
• So what about the citizenry?
Mayor-Council/Council-MayorWeak versus Strong
• Mayor prepares and administers the budget
• City Council often has to approve the budget
• Strong mayor government, mayor appoints Chief Administrative Office (CAO)
• CAO supervises Department Heads, prepare the budget and coordinates department functions
Mayor-Council/Council-MayorWeak versus Strong
• CAO often referred to as city manager
• City manager responsible only to mayor
• Most major US cities use the strong form of the mayor-council system
STATE AND LOCAL FINANCE POLICY
• State and local governments are a confusing array of responsibilities, revenues, and budgets.
• Due primarily to different ways states and local governments allocate functional responsibilities among local governments.
• Lets look at the state first
State Funding
• State government revenues are derived from a variety of sources.
• Largest share of revenue (42.8 percent) from taxes
• Primarily sales taxes, income taxes, and motor vehicle and fuel taxes.
• Second largest source of state revenue is aid from the federal government (almost 21.7 percent)
State Funding
• Next from state insurance programs (approximately 21.2 percent).
• Other sources of income: charges for services, state-operated liquor stores, utilities, payments from local governments, and a number of miscellaneous sources.
State Funding
• Nearly 50 percent of state money goes to operate state programs
• Construct state buildings, direct assistance to individuals
• Approximately 30 percent is allocated as aid to local governments.
• Local governments allocated the bulk of their money to education (about 38 percent)
• So what about Prop 100• Followed by health and social services (about 13
percent), and public safety (about 9 percent).
Finishing Up
• States have been willing to decentralize their governing arrangement
• Why you ask
• This allows for the creation of grass roots-oriented local governments.
• The purpose of this is to address citizens' policy demands. (Unless you live in a Republic)
Interesting Quote
• “The very existence of so many governments to handle so many different and needed services speaks to the health of democracy.”
Pearson
• Yet state and local politics are not perfectly democratic: there is poor coverage in the media; there are low levels of citizen participation; business interests have substantial leverage in state and city affairs; and term limits can also have undemocratic aspects.
Back to the Wrap-up
• Yet state and local politics are not perfectly democratic
• Why you ask??• poor coverage in the media (duh)• Low levels of citizen participation (duh)• Business interests have substantial
leverage • City affairs and term limits can also have
undemocratic aspects
Getting Closer to the End
• Growth in state and local government employment has exceeded that of the federal government for most of this century (I am sure this will change NOT)
• Most of the growth tied to heightened demands for more government programs.
Almost There
• State and local governments trying to reorganize their government structures to get more effective government and more efficient use of taxpayers' dollars
• Unfortunately in most cases, this process of reorganization has not resulted in smaller government.
Done!!
• Most state and local governments now experimenting with sunset legislation
• This would limit the scope of state government.
• However, as demands for services have grown, state and local governments have also had to grow in order to meet new challenges.
• Turns out to be a never ending challenge