Towns & Townships Under Seige:
The Attack on Local Democracy
Presentation by Wendell Cox
National Association of Towns & Townships • Washington
29 September 2008
Chapman Twp, Clinton Co, PA
Median Sized
Local Government
Population: 993
Based on
US Census
Data
Local Governments in the United States
2000 CENSUS: COUNT BY POPULATION
Population
Class
Average: 6,300
Median: 994
Chicago
Metropolitan America: Small Towns
EXAMPLE: NYC AREA: 746 LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
Local Democracy in Metropolitan Paris
1,300 GENERAL GOVERNMENT UNITS
Swanton Twp, Lucas Co, OH
The Claims
New York City
The Consolidation Agenda
VICTORY OF RHETORIC OVER REALITY
BOGUS CLAIMS
More Efficient
Spurs Economic Growth
Spurs Population Growth
Anti-Suburban Policies
SUBURBIA: DEMOCRATIZING PROSPERITY
Levittown, Hempstead Town, Nassau Co, NY
… the harmonization
of wages and service
levels has resulted in
higher costs for the
new City. We will all
continue to feel these
higher costs in the
future.
Toronto City Summit Alliance
2003
Toronto’s Costly Consolidation
HIGHER COSTS, PROMISED SAVINGS NOT ACHIEVED
Figure 10
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
1997
Promised
Reality: 2006
Toronto Tax Trends
PRE AND POST CONSOLIDATION
ÅPer Capita Taxes (2006$)
Before
Consolidation
(6 Jurisdictions
Total)
After
Consolidation
Figure 11
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
1996
2001
2006
ÅPopulation Change (x1,000)
Toronto & Suburbs: Population Change
BEFORE & AFTER CONSOLIDATION (1997)
Suburbs
Toronto
(Present
Area)
Saying “No” to Consolidation
DE-MERGER MOVEMENT IN MONTREAL
Montreal
Figure 13
$0
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
0
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
ÅAverage Government Size (Population) Æ
Hawaii Æ
Excluded
for Clarity
Govt. Size: 64,900
Spending: $605
ÅPer Capita Local Government Spending
Representative Services
Local Government Expenditures
BY STATE: 2004
Efficiency?
Town of Kirkland, Oneida Co, NY
Government
Efficiency in
Pennsylvania
Figure 19
$0
$100
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
$800
$900
Over
250,000
50,000-
250,000
25,000-
50,