[wetnewspaper]

Originally Posted by WILWRadio

It

Been there, done that. Didn't work out too well. Yet, former Democrat Senator Gary Le Beau thinks we need to expand the size and scope of government to solve the fiscal issues in CT.

A lot of the the Midwest and south does this already- while it is not ideal, it does save plenty of money and improves efficiency. If there was ever a time to do it, it'd be now.

[wetnewspaper]

Originally Posted by JayCT

I read that. All I can say is that bigger is NEVER better. Schools, our biggest strength, would suffer, as would just about all services. No way. Jay

County gov't is actually smaller- it consolidates services. Pros/ cons? http://blog.chron.com/opportunityurb...consolidation/

[clutchrider]

Yeah no way. The major cities like Hartford, New Haven, etc. would own their smaller towns and cities and provide nothing but a terrible outcome. No way I want to be responsible for NH's issues, taxes, policies, etc. The big cities would suck their suburban and rural towns dry, I don't live in a city for a reason!

[BPt111]

Originally Posted by clutchrider

Yeah no way. The major cities like Hartford, New Haven, etc. would own their smaller towns and cities and provide nothing but a terrible outcome. No way I want to be responsible for NH's issues, taxes, policies, etc. The big cities would suck their suburban and rural towns dry, I don't live in a city for a reason!

So Greenwich paying Bridgeport bills, Woodbridge paying New Haven and Waterbury bills, Avon paying Hartford bills

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by wetnewspaper

County gov't is actually smaller- it consolidates services. Pros/ cons? Pros and cons of city-county consolidation - Opportunity Urbanist

Not really. It also isolates and insulates the local decision making processes. I personally do not want the power of things like land-use, zoning and schools made in some regional agency.

You have to look no further than the intersection of Hebron Avenue (Route 94) and Chaulker Hill to see what happens when a remote government agency makes decisions without any knowledge, input or accountability to the local public. For those of you who don't know the location, it is the site of a large fuel cell facility that was approved by the Connecticut Siting Council in the middle of a wooded residential area. If you drive by now, you see what looks to be an industrial facility with little landscaping or vegetation to hide it. The town tried to get the council to at least require a more substantial landscaping plan but it was denied and only a few trees were added. Now the residents are stuck looking at an ugly facility in the middle of what was a nice residential area. Yeah, go ahead and try and convince me a regional government is better. No way. Jay

[RunD1987]

For it get the mill below 70

At least an excess tax the county adds on to property taxes that helps fund school's within on their County, maintain State roads running through the County, and fund resident troopers/barracks in the County.

[parentologist]

The towns prefer small local government because there is more opportunity for local control and accountability. Our cities are largely underclass, with residents whose priorities differ from those of the suburban towns. Move to county government, or regionalized schools, and many, many people will vote with their feet.

[WILWRadio]

Originally Posted by wetnewspaper

A lot of the the Midwest and south does this already- while it is not ideal, it does save plenty of money and improves efficiency. If there was ever a time to do it, it'd be now.

Not entirely true. While it helps areas the are unincorporated to be able to afford some level of services, it otherwise only serves to add another layer of bureaucracy to the incorporated areas that already have the same services provided by their local town or city government. I have lived in the Midwest and also western NY where they have county government. I know the pro's and con's having been around it for many years. The only way CT could benefit is if it had unincorporated areas. Otherwise, local cities and towns should try to work on consolidation of some services that won't be compromised under that scenario at the local level on their own.

[MikefromCT]

Let's not and say we did. It'd be just an opportunity to enact another tax and suck suburban towns dry. As I've said before, it's not the suburbs' fault that their municipalities are financially sound while the cities (like Hartford) are in economic shambles. Forget about the "building booms" going on in downtown areas and look at the outlying neighborhoods. Chances are, most suburbanites don't regard them as a desirable place, hence the reason why they choose not to invest their time or money there.

[Mike 75]

Originally Posted by WILWRadio

Not entirely true. While it helps areas the are unincorporated to be able to afford some level of services, it otherwise only serves to add another layer of bureaucracy to the incorporated areas that already have the same services provided by their local town or city government. I have lived in the Midwest and also western NY where they have county government. I know the pro's and con's having been around it for many years. The only way CT could benefit is if it had unincorporated areas. Otherwise, local cities and towns should try to work on consolidation of some services that won't be compromised under that scenario at the local level on their own.

Good point on county gov't serving unincorporated areas. With no unincorporated areas, there is no need for county gov't in CT.