Really irritating article from "Reason Magazine"

[TheGerbil]

I don't think a city/county government has to mean the city annexes the suburbs. More like the county would absorb all the municipalities into it. But I would be pretty happy just with some kind of tax-sharing.

[Evergrey]

That also cannot happen. In Pennsylvania, municipalities and counties are essential on an "equal" level... but are distinct in that they provide a seperate bundle of services... counties' services inherently being more regional in nature. Allegheny County could not coerce any municipality to "merge" or "fold" into it, just like the county has no say over local land use decisions. Each of the 130 municipalities and the county would have to make 130 voter-approved agreements. City-county mergers have happened in southern states due to differences in systems of local governance. Most land there is unincorporated and receives all services from the county. The incorporated cities basically enter into a struggle with counties if they wish to annex land (county doesn't want to lose its tax base). Sometimes cities and counties decide to just merge instead of wasting resources on this battle. Every inch of land in Pennsylvania is incorporated... so there is no ability to annex... and mergers are unlikely.

[TheGerbil]

The seemingly impossible has happened before. It would be a huge battle, but I don't think it's completely unfeasible. However, I know that tax-sharing would be easier to implement, and I would be satisfied with that.

[ainulindale]

I don't understand this "diversity in politics" complaint.

[ainulindale]

Exactly the state GOP wants the city to die.