City County Merger??

[BrianTH]

It is true it is asking too much of schools to solve all the social problems that can lead to lower test scores, but on the other hand when you control for those factors, spending more money specifically to improve instruction has been associated with improved outcomes. Indeed, that is part of the motivation for what the Gates Foundation is doing (setting up pilot programs specifically focused on instruction).

[Katarina Witt]

Back to the topic of city-county merger, I am in favor of more intergovernmental co-operation, more regional services and the like. I don't think you could get all these little boroughs and townships to give up what they perceive as their independence, though. My father was a councilman for the tiny borough of Patterson Hts in Beaver County, and that was certainly his opinion. Patterson Hts, BTW is surrounded on all 4 sides by other municipalities.

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by Katiana

Back to the topic of city-county merger, I am in favor of more intergovernmental co-operation, more regional services and the like. I don't think you could get all these little boroughs and townships to give up what they perceive as their independence, though. My father was a councilman for the tiny borough of Patterson Hts in Beaver County, and that was certainly his opinion. Patterson Hts, BTW is surrounded on all 4 sides by other municipalities.

I think most municipalities are surrounded on all four sides by other municipalities. Many have merged school districts in the past. For instance, Fox Chapel School District absorbed Indiana Township, O'Hara Township, Sharpsburg, and Aspinwall. The same with Shaler Township absorbing Reserve Township, Etna Boro, Millvale Boro. Although they share school districts, they still retain their individual governments and services, but they share services for the good of the overall area. For instance, Shaler and Fox Chapel both send police cruisers through Etna and Sharpsburg, respectively, to offset the shortage of police officers on certain shifts.

I prefer the individual smaller municipality governments. It's easier to make ensure service coverage. County government would move police officers from safe neighborhoods into unsafe areas. That puts the safe areas at risk. A well staffed police force keeps areas safe. Larger government is less likely to accomplish this. Pittsburgh police rarely go into the ghettos at night. If Homewood always had it's own police force, Homewood might not be what it is today.

I agree that it's important for unsafe areas to receive better services. I think that funding is the answer, but not at the risk of safer areas.