Nearly 80% of Pennsylvania's municipalities have populations less than 5,000. Recently released reports say it's time for the state to form regional coalitions that will help improve local economies and harbor regional planning.
"Pennsylvania has 2,565 local governments, or one for every 4,820 residents."
"Recent studies say the state's fragmented governmental structure and near-total absence of regional planning holds back economic progress, crippling older communities and allowing unchecked development despite nearly $1 billion in new funding aimed at community revitalization and open-space preservation."
"The reports from the Brookings Institution and two other groups gave the Rendell administration kudos for its efforts, but said the General Assembly now needs to take the lead, with new land-use legislation and changes to ambiguous and outdated laws that have created boundaries and discouraged intergovernmental cooperation."
"The Brookings, Pennsylvania State University and Pennsylvania Economy League reports released last month endorsed recommendations from the state Planning Board last year to expand the authority of county governments, allow tax-base and revenue sharing, reconcile conflicts among local government codes, and encourage - even mandate, if necessary - economically foundering local governments to merge with healthier neighbors."
FULL STORY: Reports say a lack of regionalism hurts Pa.
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Smith Gee Studio
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)