Over 40 years ago, it was hard to imagine that the most numerous local governments in the United States would be special districts. They outnumber every other form of government and counted 35,052 in 2002. Special districts emerged in California especially after the 1970s, when cities and urban areas formed new local governments. At the periphery of urban areas, residential development with a low density occurred – this ‘sprawl’ came along with the creation of cookie-cutter suburbs. Special districts were formed to provide a single service for areas, thereby crossing the boundaries of cities and counties. These special authorities played the major role in the proliferation of governments in California which led to fragmentation and decentralization (‘political sprawl’) (Lecture 10/14/09). In the following essay, I will show that this multiplication of governments in regard to special districts is not per se a critical development in urban politics but rather is the separation of citizens in newly formed municipalities from the socioeconomic problems of urban areas. I will first explain the fiscal crisis and role of Proposition 13 in California (1978). Then, I will outline causes and consequences of the proliferation of local governments. With reference to the example of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, I will provide arguments that support my thesis of the important role special districts have. [...]
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Fiscal Crisis and Proposition 13 in California (1978)
- Causes and Consequences of the Proliferation of Local Governments
- The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD)
- Fiscal Conservatism of Citizens and its Consequences
- Metropolitan Reforms
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This essay examines the proliferation of special districts in California, particularly in the context of urban politics and the separation of citizens from socioeconomic problems. It aims to analyze the impact of Proposition 13, outline the causes and consequences of this government multiplication, and explore the role of special districts in managing essential services. The essay emphasizes the fiscal conservatism of citizens and its influence on government fragmentation, particularly in relation to the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.- The impact of Proposition 13 on local government finances
- The causes and consequences of the proliferation of special districts
- The role of special districts in providing essential services, particularly the Metropolitan Water District
- The fiscal conservatism of citizens and its influence on government fragmentation
- The effectiveness of metropolitan reforms in addressing the challenges of decentralization
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The essay begins by analyzing the fiscal crisis in California and the role of Proposition 13 in reducing property taxes. This led to a decline in local government revenues, prompting a search for alternative funding sources and contributing to the proliferation of special districts. The essay then examines the causes and consequences of this multiplication, highlighting the increasing demand for services, particularly in the realm of infrastructure development. It uses the example of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California to illustrate how special districts can effectively manage critical services and support economic growth. The essay further discusses the fiscal conservatism of citizens and its impact on government fragmentation, noting that this can lead to a concentration of socioeconomic problems in certain areas. Finally, it explores the challenges of metropolitan reforms in addressing the issue of decentralization, emphasizing the need for coordination and collaboration among different local governments.Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The main keywords and focus topics of the text include: special districts, local government proliferation, Proposition 13, fiscal conservatism, urban politics, decentralization, fragmentation, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD), metropolitan reforms, socioeconomic problems, and the "vote with their feet" phenomenon.- Quote paper
- Renard Teipelke (Author), 2009, Proliferation of Governments, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/141676
