Do Cities and Counties Attempt to Circumvent Changes in Their Autonomy by Creating Special Districts?

21 Pages Posted: 9 Mar 2017 Last revised: 20 Aug 2018

See all articles by Christopher B. Goodman

Christopher B. Goodman

Northern Illinois University - Department of Public Administration

Suzanne LeLand

University of North Carolina (UNC) at Charlotte

Date Written: March 7, 2017

Abstract

This study uses forty years of data from the US Census of Governments to examine the impact of changes in local autonomy on the creation of the fastest growing form of local governments, special districts. Using fixed effects regression specified at the urban county and metropolitan statistical area level, we find that restrictions of fiscal autonomy of cities is associated with creation of new special districts. When the limits on fiscal autonomy interacts with grants of functional autonomy, amplification occurs. We find no analogous effects for county governments. These two findings are consistent with the circumvention argument made in the local autonomy literature.

Keywords: Special Districts, Home Rule, Tax and Expenditure Limitations, Local Governments

Suggested Citation

Goodman, Christopher B. and LELAND, SUZANNE, Do Cities and Counties Attempt to Circumvent Changes in Their Autonomy by Creating Special Districts? (March 7, 2017). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2928976 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2928976

Christopher B. Goodman (Contact Author)

Northern Illinois University - Department of Public Administration ( email )

1425 W. Lincoln Hwy
Dekalb, IL 60115-2828
United States

SUZANNE LELAND

University of North Carolina (UNC) at Charlotte

9201 University City Boulevard
Charlotte, NC 28223
United States

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