18.5 Interlocal Cooperation

Interlocal cooperation is the practice where local governments work together to achieve common policy or administrative goals. These cooperative efforts can take many forms, ranging from informal “handshake” agreements to formal written contracts. Local governments might share resources, personnel, or even services.

One of the primary reasons for interlocal cooperation is cost savings. By pooling resources, local governments can reduce expenses and improve service efficiency and effectiveness. This cooperation can lead to decreased property tax burdens for residents, service standardization, improved responsiveness, and the reduction of duplicative services.

Formal Cooperation Agreement

Service contracts involve formal agreements between governments to provide or receive services. For example, a local government might help a neighboring city with a specific task, or they might pay another local government to handle services like waste disposal or street repair. This arrangement, known as contracting out, occurs when a government hires another entity—either another government or a private organization—to perform a service instead of providing it directly. Contracting out allows governments to save costs and access specialized expertise.

Interlocal contracts also might involve shared staffing or physical resources–such as heavy equipment–as well. In Cuyahoga County, nearly all local governments collaborate through some form of interlocal contracting. For example, mutual aid agreements allow local governments to share resources and support each other during emergencies. Mutual aid agreements are formal arrangements between agencies to provide assistance and share resources during emergencies or disasters. These agreements allow local governments to support one another with personnel, equipment, or services when local resources are overwhelmed.

Organizations That Facilitate Cooperation

Local governments sometimes form regional organizations to coordinate and cooperate on a larger scale. For example, a council of governments (COG) is a voluntary association of local governments, such as cities, counties, townships, or villages, that collaborate to address regional issues and provide shared services. COGs operate as administrative organizations and are not a separate level of government. Members pool resources and expertise to solve problems that extend beyond individual jurisdictions. In Northeast Ohio, the Regional Income Tax Agency (RITA), operates as a COG that assists over 300 municipalities with income tax collection and administration. By centralizing tax services, RITA helps its members reduce administrative costs and improve compliance.

Metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) are regional entities designated by federal law to coordinate transportation planning and funding in metropolitan areas with populations of 50,000 or more. MPOs bring together representatives from local governments, state transportation agencies, and other stakeholders to develop long-range transportation plans and prioritize projects that align with regional goals.

The Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA) serves as the MPO for Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, and Medina counties. Its members include representatives from local governments within these counties, regional transit authorities, and state agencies. Specifically, membership consists of elected officials (such as county commissioners and mayors) and appointed officials who work collaboratively to guide regional transportation and environmental planning.

Less Formal Cooperation

Collaboration groups and policy networks are more informal but equally important. Collaboration groups facilitate program coordination and joint action among local governments. These are essentially working groups that coordinate action.

Policy networks, in contrast, are more informal and involve ongoing communication and idea-sharing among a diverse range of stakeholders, including government officials, nonprofits, private organizations, and community leaders. These networks help local governments stay informed about best practices, explore innovative solutions, and build relationships that support long-term collaboration on common challenges.

In real life, a policy network might involve the Cleveland mayor collaborating with counterparts in cities like Akron, Columbus, Detroit or Pittsburgh to identify best practices for public transit or tackling urban redevelopment. This network could also include regional stakeholders, such as nonprofit leaders, business representatives, and state officials, who contribute expertise and ideas. By sharing strategies, lessons learned, and innovative solutions, these groups work together to develop policies that benefit their communities.

In conclusion, interlocal cooperation is essential for efficient and effective local governance in the United States. It allows local governments to share resources, reduce costs, and improve services for their residents. By understanding and engaging in various forms of interlocal cooperation, local governments can address common challenges and enhance the quality of life in their communities.

Reference

https://engagedscholarship.csuohio.edu/urban_facpub/1661/