LOCAL GOVERNMENTS Objectives Analyze the forms, structure, powers and roles of local government Special districts, governance funding and purpose (e.g.,

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)


• 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?


• 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.


• 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.

Organization

• Mayor

• Council

• Manager

• Department Heads

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


• 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


• 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


• 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


• 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 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


• 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

Structure of Mayor/Council

The Mayor-Council Form

Voters

Mayor/Council

Department Heads

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

NOW FOR STATE GOVERNMENT

• No big deal

• Remember that we have a Secretary of state and of course the numbers that go along with representation

DONE!!

Documents

LOCAL GOVERNMENTS Objectives Analyze the forms, structure, powers and roles of local government Special districts, governance funding and purpose (e.g.,