|
Arizona County/City Assistance Program •
Government Programs, The University of Arizona •
Fall 1999
"COUNTY CHARTER GOVERNMENT IN THE WEST"
|
What makes Western counties unique? Progressive state government,
vast and rugged terrain owned largely by the federal government,
individualistic spirit, and economic dependence on land and water
have influenced Western county issues and the charters they adopt.
The most detailed study yet on county charter government was unveiled
in May by the National Association of Counties at the Western Interstate
Region conference in Concord, California. Authors Tanis Salant and Dawn
Cowan devoted two years to interviewing officials and analyzing each of
the 38 county charters in Western states. Western charters tend to give
counties the most flexibility in structural matters as well as institute
political reforms that give citizens more control or make government more
accountable. Surprisingly, home rule authority does not seem to be the
major objective of charters; instead, they are used as tools for better
management. Accounts of several charter commissions also suggest that
processes reflect the unique context of particular counties, and no
pattern emerges with which to predict approval or rejection at the
polls. COUNTY CHARTER GOVERNMENT IN THE WEST is a project of the
Western Centers Consortium, under the sponsorship of the WK. Kellogg
Foundation. The National Association of Counties published the book,
and copies may be acquired through NACO's Research Division.
|
|
|
WESTERN CENTERS CONSORTIUM V
|
|
|
The Western Centers Consortium held its fifth annual retreat in
April at the Aspen Institute. The WCC, sponsored by the W.K.
Kellogg Foundation, is a group of university-based directors
who specialize in local government research, training, teaching,
and service. Members represent universities from six states and
two provinces and collaborate on consortium research projects.
(They spent the last two years on a major national study on county
charter government, just published by NACo under the title COUNTY
CHARTER GOVERNMENT IN THE WEST.) The consortium is headquartered
in the Office of Government Programs, with Tanis Salant as principal
director. |
|
|
|
