Local governments (Cities, Counties and the like) are almost all based on geographical boundries created well over 100 years ago. Often rivers, or fence lines divided Counties and towns. It is very common for two cities to be across a river from each other.<p> Most are now counter productive to providing services cheaply. For example, take a large metro area with 10-15 small suburbs. each suburb will have a fire department with a ladder truck. Each department will use the ladder truck 3 or 4 times a year. One truck could serve a much larger area. The same holds true for water treatment plants, sewer treatment plants, jails etc. My idea is that we recreate government boundries based on current needs. Combine several small suburbs into one large suburb. Merge two large cities that are just across a river from each other to consolidate services and make better use of facilities and equipment. Just as businesses must consolidate to cut costs, so should goverment.
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Although this seems to me a very practical idea there are cultural problems with consolidation and it requires the compliance of the inhabitants. It probably would require plebicites for each instance of consolidation which indicates a long and arduous process.
Not a new idea.Already being done in some locations.Police services have done this for years. I.E. The county cops providing services to smaller communities without the resources to operate their own department. I.E. All area fire department responding to a large fire.
The consolidation of other services is more difficult than it seems. Water and sewer lines tend to stop at the borders.
Most municipalites on Ontario Canada have amalgamated, either by choice, or by force. Yes, ther are diffrences, but they get worked out or forgotten over the years.