Intergovernmental
Cooperation
Introduction
Intergovernmental cooperation between and among
cities, counties, towns and villages often produces less expensive and more
efficient local government services. Mergers of similar service activities can
provide substantial cost savings when administrative and equipment duplication
is reduced. Also there are significant savings to be had when smaller
governmental entities combine their purchasing, planning, and contracted service
delivery processes.
Several recent statewide commissions (e.g. S.A.V.E. Commission
and Kettl Commission) have advocated more, voluntary compacts of agreements by
local units of governments to reduce property tax burdens on their residents.
Smart Growth legislation promises to reward governmental bodies that have
created joint plans for economic growth, long term land use, transportation,
etc. Beginning in January 2003, State Statute 66.0316 requires that all local
governments within Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSA’s) must sign at least two
compacts with neighboring municipalities or counties for provision of joint
services. Additionally, the Budget Repair Bill of 2002 has earmarked $45 million
in 2004 Local Shared Revenues to reimburse local governments which demonstrate
cost savings in 2003 from consolidating such services.
These web pages will focus on the major state
laws and available resources that enable mutual agreements among the various
levels of local government. They will include instances of cooperation,
including land use planning agreements, mergers of local service delivery,
boundary and annexation compacts, and examples of the sharing of equipment,
personnel, and utilities.
Intergovernmental Cooperation
Resources
Local Government Center Publications
Fact Sheets
Fact Sheet
#4 - Annexation -
PDF 31 kb
Fact Sheet
#14 - Wisconsin Statutory Authority for Boundary & Related Agreements -
PDF
48 kb
Presentations
"Intergovernmental
Cooperation: A Strategy for Limited Resources" -
PowerPoint file,
484
kb
Reports
"Merger of
City/Village Services: Best Practices " -
PDF
360 kb
Related Wisconsin Links
Wisconsin Legislative Audit Bureau, Best
Practices Review, "Local
Cooperation to Maintain Roads and Streets," May 1999.
PDF
file 115 kb
Wisconsin
Statutes,
Chapter 66, Subchapter III: Intergovernmental Cooperation (Sections
66.0301-66.0315)
Other Links
Innovations
in American Government - John F. Kennedy School of Government, Institute
for Government Innovation, Harvard University
References for Intergovernmental Cooperation
Bunnell,
Gene. 1997.
“Ways Counties Can Improve Inter-Governmental Cooperation in Land Use
Planning and Growth Management”. Wisconsin
Counties. March: 37-40.
Deller,
Steven C., David G. Hinds, and Donald L. Hinman. June 2001. "Local
Public Services in Wisconsin: Alternatives for Municipalities with a Focus on
Privatization." Staff Paper No. 441, Department of Agricultural and
Applied Economics, University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Elsass,
Dan. May 1999. "Differences Between City and Village Structures." Fact
Sheet prepared for Local Government Center programs.
Elsass,
Dan. April 2000.
“Local Government Structures, Forms and Powers Under State Law”.
Background materials prepared for the Government Sub-Committee of the
Town of Windsor/Village of DeForest Consolidation Committee.
Faust,
Wayne and
Chris Dunning. No Date.
“Sharing Government Services: A Practical Guide”.
Extension Publication G3677, University of Wisconsin-Extension.
Governor's
Blue Ribbon Commission on State - Local Partnerships for the 21st Century (The
Kettl Commission). January 2001. Final
Report.
Hall,
George. March 2000.
“Cooperative Plan and Agreement Activity”. Handout distributed at the WAPA Smart Growth Conference.
June 21.
Hall,
George. March 2000.
“The Intergovernmental Cooperation Element”. Background materials distributed at the WAPA Smart Growth Workshop.
June 21.
Hinds,
David. Updated 2001.
“Alternatives for the Delivery of Government Services: Including
Intergovernmental Cooperation and Privatization”. UW-Extension Local Government Center Paper.
Hinds,
David. 1995.
“Wisconsin Town Case Studies”. Appendix
to Program Notes for Spring Town Officials Workshop.
Paddock,
Susan. "The Changing World of Wisconsin Local Government." Article
(pp. 100-172) in the State of Wisconsin Blue Book, 1997-1998.
Riffle,
Stanley. 2000.
“Top Ten Strategies for Negotiating Successful Border Agreements”.
Background materials prepared for the Wisconsin City Managers Seminar.
March 9, Oshkosh.
Schneider,
James. 2000.
“Wisconsin Statutory Authority for Boundary and Related Agreements”.
UW-Extension Local Government Center Fact Sheet # 14 (February).
Stadelman,
Rick. “Functional Consolidation: The
Key to Improving Wisconsin Local Government Services in the 21st
Century”.
UW-Extension.
1999. “Managing Growth and
Change in Wisconsin Communities”. Both
videotape and video segment summaries and discussion questions.
In particular, sections on “development at the urban fringe, highway
issues,” and “intergovernmental cooperation”.
Wilson,
Thomas and Lawrence Bechler. 1998.
“Village of Waunakee/ Town of Westport Joint Planning – A Case
Study”. An Outline prepared and
distributed in support of the November 12, 1998 Local Land Use Planning and
Zoning ETN (Joint Community Planning Update).
Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau. 1999. “A Best Practices Review: Local Cooperation to Maintain Roads and
Streets.” May.
Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau. 1996. “A Best Practices Review: Privatization of Local Government
Services.” December.
Witynksi, Curt.
1999.
“Organization and Powers of Cities and Villages”.
Background paper prepared for the 1999 UW-Extension New Officials
Workshop.
