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That would be fiscally irresponsible and characteristic of bad city management to take on another town's liabilities, obligations, responsibilities, etc. I can't imagine the taxpayers willingly accepting the problems of a no-name neighboring town.
[nothing you've written thus far makes for a compelling argument]
yeah but pushing growth in the consolidated town, would be better than pushing for sprawl growth in the original town.
With such income inequality in the US, there can be massive differences in wealth between neighboring municipalities. I think this is the real reason consolidation is not common. It would be tough to quantify the benefits of consolidating Baltimore City and Baltimore County, whose median income is more than twice the city's.
With such income inequality in the US, there can be massive differences in wealth between neighboring municipalities. I think this is the real reason consolidation is not common. It would be tough to quantify the benefits of consolidating Baltimore City and Baltimore County, whose median income is more than twice the city's.
In Canada, local cities and towns have less rights and the provincial governments are more able to abolish them at will. In Nova Scotia, all the towns within Halfiax County were abolished and formed one regional municipality. Same happened in Cape Breton. There's less income difference between municipalities, the controversy was more between rural parts of Halifax County being overwhelmed by the more urban and suburban residents of the county. It's a bit strange seeing completely rural areas within the city limits.
Political pride is a big reason. So is the continual border battles over commercial development. Yes, it would avoid the ridiculous crossing from one town to another, then back into the first, then the second, all within a few miles.
This. Politicians don't want to lose their jobs. You should have seen the furor in Cleveland over cutting down the number of city councilmen. And we still have twice as many as ANY city our size.
One of the towns, which is un-incorporated, in my area just had the community service district manager resign as well as two community service district board members. Rumors say another member is planning on resigning. The town is in a big mess after a sewage treatment plant flooded a bunch of neighborhoods in the town. There is no money to pay for the damages. No growth people have fought tooth and nail to keep development out, so only about two hotels and a mexican market is the only cash flow. Many are crying to consolidate into another town since the county or state refuses to step in and manage the town. There are still plans to tear out a small airport used by private pilots and build into a high-end tourist shopping, dining, and visitor area along the dunes. The same developer was the whistle blower who ended revealing the laws the community services district manager and board members have committed.
Even one mayor from a local town was in on the dirty business, and she resigned too. Both towns will either have to pay for higher taxes or decide to consolidate together and change their growth policies to allow for more development that will bring in tax revenue.
Unfortunately, I have not heard of any petition circulating for consolidation yet. I wrong a letter to the editor suggesting the idea and it got positive reviews by people I know and people I don't know. Yet, no one has taken the time to make action happen.
You want to be careful about merging if the areas in question are politically opposite. It could spell disaster for at least one of them. Toronto went from moderate/liberal to far right overnight after consolidating several of its large conservative suburbs in 1998. Making possible the election of a vulgar boorish reactionary mayor named Rob Ford who is widely reported to be a long-time crack user. Bad idea!
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