Should Georgia Downsize/merge the counties (Washington, Oconee: school, costs, law)

[Southernbill]

Should the state of Georgia allow counties to merge. Due to budget shortfalls and as a cost cutting measure. Georgia has some of the smallest counties in the nation and there seems to be a push to add another according to this article.
Milton County legislation back for another try *| ajc.com

2 examples that illustrate what is being asked.
Merge counties, save money? - Omaha.com

Lawmaker wants to merge some weaker Washington counties to make them self-sufficient

How would this help or hurt the state. Which counties would you merged.

[southgeorgia]

No one in any office of authority is truly willing to give up that authority with a merger.


They were talking about this over 10 years ago in my area; merging smaller counties in the southern part of the state so ATL metro counties could divide. Its just not going to happen.

[axemanjoe]

There's way to many fiefdoms with mini-kings in ga, 159 counties, no wonder why theres such a lack of progress. NY state has 65 counties.

[EastsideDave]

While it may make sense economically, you'd have a very hard time convincing the leaders and residents of those small rural counties to merge with others...some would view it as losing their local identity or something like that.

[southgeorgia]

Originally Posted by EastsideDave

. . . .some would view it as losing their local identity or something like that.

its exactly like that.

[cwkimbro]

Georgia has a history of seperating counties, so richer areas can seperate themselves from poorer areas and/or they can benefit from the economic benefits of a neighboring county without paying for them. To a large extent this is what is happening with the Milion/N. Fulton plan. (Oconee County/Clarke County)

It is also why Georgia eventually created a law to prevent more than 159 counties from being created.

I think it would help some rural Georgia counties to merge, but they also need to realize it doesn't have to mean they lose their identities just because they want to merge some services to cut costs.

One thing I find interesting between us and say NY or NJ... which relates to many of the other comments, but in different ways is in Georgia out identities and services are more often county based than they are city/town/township based. Georgia's 159 counties aren't always that inefficient, because they are often providing the services that 5 or 6 towns would provide in a much larger county in the northeast. Just look at the number of school systems in NJ compared to Georgia. It is over 600.

The trick is to allow some counties to merge... provide some services across larger service areas where costs can cut, but allow smaller areas of the old counties to maintain control of services where costs can't be cut by merging. There is a reason why cities, towns, and townships are more important in states with much larger counties. One thing is true though... we need fewer school systems... not more... Alot of money could be saved/reinvested by combining rural school systems that are too small and under resourced.

[Craziaskowboi]

Originally Posted by axemanjoe

There's way to many fiefdoms with mini-kings in ga, 159 counties, no wonder why theres such a lack of progress. NY state has 65 counties.

It's probably more efficient to have 159 "strong" counties than a smaller number of "weak" counties with thousands of microscopic boroughs and municipalities, like they have in Pennsylvania and Illinois.

[cwkimbro]

but lets not forget... not all of Georgia's 159 counties are all that big... or all that strong.. Part of the idea is... can some of them be stronger... by being bigger without all of the smaller townships

[Craziaskowboi]

Originally Posted by cwkimbro

but lets not forget... not all of Georgia's 159 counties are all that big... or all that strong.. Part of the idea is... can some of them be stronger... by being bigger without all of the smaller townships

There may be differences in each county's "strength" compared to other counties in Georgia, but regardless, a Georgia county is stronger than a Pennsylvania or Illinois county, where power in the local government typically rests with the boroughs and municipalities (and even townships).

[midgeorgiaman]

I agree that some counties would benefit, but it will NEVER happen. As stated earlier, this would require some county commissioners, sherrifs, etc. to give up their jobs and gasp....power. Also, if two counties did merge there would instantly be applications for others such as Fulton to divide.