Point Counterpoint: Should We Consolidate Our Local Governments into Many Fewer (or One)?
In a Virginian-Pilot/Daily Press op ed this past April 12, William (Willy) Donaldson, Ph.D., a respected assistant professor of finance and management at Christopher Newport University with an MBA from W&M, stated what a lot of people around here have long thought: we have too many local governments.
Here’s a Willy quote:
“Eighteen. That’s how many separate cities, counties and towns officially make up the Hampton Roads Metropolitan Statistical Area: 18 independent governments, each with its own mayor, city council, school board, police department, fire service, administrative structures, etc. This fragmentation leads to duplication of services, inconsistent policies, wasted resources, and a regional government that too often operates at cross-purposes rather than as a unified whole. In a region competing on a national and global scale, this is not just inefficient — it’s self-defeating.”
Donaldson called for “a consolidated regional government to centralize planning, secure federal funding more effectively, streamline public services and coordinate education policy.”
We figured Jim Spore, the retired “dean” of city managers (24 years with VA Beach) and then President/CEO of Reinvent Hampton Roads for the next six, might have some thoughts on this.
Here they are:
“There are two myths at play here. One is that our problems could be resolved if we’d just consolidate and start acting as a unified region. The second is that these 18 units of local government (which is actually less than in many other regions) don’t cooperate with each other. Worse yet they compete.
I agree there might be some benefits to consolidation, but Dr. Donaldson’s belief that it hasn’t happened because of a lack of ‘political will’ is mistaken. The fact is, even if consensus could be reached, it would take too long and require the expenditure of too much political capital for the promised results.
As a result, an amazing coalition between business leadership and key members of the General Assembly has developed. They concluded that the long-term strategic answer to regional “under performance” was to focus on creating higher paying jobs in “traded sector” businesses, those that export products and services beyond local jurisdictions. This led to the creation of the innovative GO VA Program (Growth and Opportunity). The answer, we concluded, was ‘Collaboration not Consolidation’.
In Hampton Roads, we have excelled in regionalizing (without consolidating cities) important systems and services like sewage treatment, public transit, economic development supported by the regional ED directors (RED Team), solid waste and, of course, major transportation projects. We now have a President’s Council composed of leaders of many public and private organizations. The connections achieved have been truly transformational, far surpassing what could be achieved through consolidation.”
We offered Willy Donaldson the last word. Clearly a Forward Thinker in his own right, here’s how he responded.
My contention is that the task of managing the region would be far easier with fewer municipalities. I think Jim has propagated his own myth in stating that the existing entities do not really compete. The state-imposed Dillon Rule mandates that they compete. Indeed it severely constrains the latitude the municipalities have in sharing resources. The Dillon Rule was created in 1868 by Iowa Judge John F. Dillon. Maybe it’s time to revisit?
Jim is correct that there is a lot of great regional cooperation going on, and he has been at the vanguard of those efforts. But would it not be easier with only a few municipalities, or one? Another truism of systems thinking (my expertise) is that in reality, there are no “boundaries” in the real world, only ones of thought, political, and social making. So the only constraint is the political will to change our reality. Not easy, not quick, and not without angst and drama, but perhaps a better future?”
The conversation continues.