Intergovernmental Cooperation, Municipal Consolidation, and Boundary Change by Alan Kugler

Alan Kugler of PA Futures is a consultant working with municipal governments on how to report the potential benefits of consolidation to present to voters, in addition to providing information for policy decision-making for citizens, public officials, and civic and business leaders. Kugler explained the political, legal, and social challenges associated with intergovernmental cooperation, municipal consolidations, and boundary change. He discussed the powers that Article IX of the Pennsylvania Constitution gives municipalities through the home rule and intergovernmental cooperation laws. Then, Kugler explained the Municipal Consolidation or Merger Act of 1994 that was amended in 2003 to enable citizens to conduct a referendum to form a joint Government Study Commission to study potential merging of their municipalities. Citizens would decide if consolidation is in the long-term best interests of the municipalities involved.

Read Alan Kugler's Handout on Intergovernmental Cooperation, Municipal Consolidation, and Boundary Change