The federal system of government used in the United States aniticipates lawmaking at both a national and state level. Within the states, county, township, municipal, and special local districts also play critical roles. Perhaps inevitable consequences of this multi-tiered and often decentralized structure are governmental functions which are sometimes uncoordinated, redundant, or bureaucratic. The concept of governmental coordination and streamlining is not new. The concept has enjoyed a high profile in recent years, however, and attracted considerable interest during the workgroup processes held in 1995.1 Although the desire for better governmental coordination and streamlining seemingly has universal appeal, opinions differ as to the best mechanisms for achieving the desired results. This chapter provides an overview of some current concerns and efforts, both inside and outside Indiana, to provide for more efficient governance. |