Suburban Merger: Should it Happen?
Posted byChris Thompson - 06.22.2011
As we've noted before, the permanent fiscal crisis is driving big change in local government. Partners in Advance Northeast Ohio have been calling for more government efficiency since 2007 and increasingly that call is being answered. Today four suburbs in Cuyahoga County, joined by County Executive Ed FitzGerald, announced their intent to consider merging.
This is a big step for the mayors of Moreland Hills, Orange Village, Pepper Pike and Woodmere; although they are a long way from actually merging. If they do merge, the four communities would still be a relatively small community of about 13,000 residents -- about middle of the pack among the 59 communities in Cuyahoga County.
Cuyahoga County will help the communities explore the benefits of merging; a valuable role for the county to play as it too pushes for more efficient, collaborative government. As this story points out, pulling off a merger won't be easy.
Hopefully, this is the first step of many more to come. Do you think your community would be best served it it merged with those next door?
And do you think communities merging would reduce the region's expensive habit of adding more roads, sewers and other infrastructure even though our population is relatively flat? For more on this issue, check out the spirited conversation on The Civic Commons called: It's the Sprawl, Stupid.
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