BY CANTON MAYOR
WILLIAM J. HEALY II
While the concept of “regionalism” has only come into the spotlight recently, the need for its application has been quietly growing for decades.
Though there are some who still consider regionalism to be merely a buzzword or a passing trend in government theory, many local officials are starting to realize that this concept may be their only way to generate development in their communities and survive in the face of rising government costs and declining tax revenues. These municipal leaders have come to one universal conclusion: our current system is flawed!
Recognizing the Deficiency
Area residents are becoming increasingly frustrated with their elected and appointed government officials. Despite the fact they are often paying the same amount (or more) in local taxes year after year, they are seeing their government services decrease, both in quantity as well as quality.
Municipal leaders also are frustrated. The basic costs associated with running cities and towns (even essentials like electricity, gasoline and employee health care premiums) are continuously increasing, draining government accounts at an alarming rate. Without any realistic expectation for a long-term increase in revenues on the horizon, this situation puts local leaders in a very difficult position.
Unfortunately, a common mentality has emerged among some area communities to adopt a “go-it-alone” strategy in order to generate revenue. Instead of working with neighboring cities and towns to bring new, sustainable growth to the region, local governments are competing with each other for existing opportunities. Some are attempting to win at all costs and often at the expense of neighboring communities.
This mindset is counterproductive, as it only seeks to bandage a problem that needs major surgery. Luckily, our region’s elected officials are realizing that the current system is fundamentally flawed, and have started thinking of creative solutions to address the situation. The time has come for a new era of cooperative government in Northeast Ohio.
A Plan for Regional Growth
In 2007, members of the Northeast Ohio Mayors and City Managers Association (NEOM&CMA) came together to find a practical solution to the economic problems facing their communities. Partnering with the Fund for Our Economic Future, the NEOM&CMA commissioned a first-of-its-kind study to examine current costs of government and what needs to be done to stimulate regional growth and economic development.
The results of the study confirmed what many already suspected from first-hand experience. Job and income growth in the region have trailed national trends. The region continues to expand, developing new land despite the fact that the population is stagnating. The result is more and more existing structures standing empty while money is poured into expensive new projects that cost more than they are ultimately worth. Fortunately, the study also provided data that supports two simple yet revolutionary concepts that could go a long way toward solving these issues: regional revenue sharing and regional land use planning.
Regional Revenue Sharing?under this concept, a large number of communities in Northeast Ohio would enter into a revenue sharing agreement. This agreement would require a small portion of all new development revenue generated by member communities to be deposited into a common fund. Those funds would then be redistributed to member communities using an agreed-upon formula – effectively eliminating the incentive for communities to compete with one another for development dollars within the region. By removing this incentive for local competition, meaningful regional growth could take place as communities start to cooperate with one another to attract major investments to the area. The old adage that says, “a rising tide lifts all boats” is at the core of this concept, and allows our region to take productive steps toward the creation of new jobs and the success of long-term development in Northeast Ohio.
Regional Land Use Planning?Similar to the regional revenue sharing concept, a regional land use plan allows local municipalities to stop wasteful and excessive development that is unsustainable in the long term. Hundreds (if not thousands) of warehouses, industrial sites, commercial spaces and existing developed areas are sitting empty in Northeast Ohio cities, towns and villages. By creating a plan to funnel new investments to appropriate existing sites, it will no longer be practical to attract new companies to a certain location simply because empty land is available. Local governments with empty infrastructure will begin to see their unused assets become valuable once more, and unnecessary expenditures on new roads and infrastructure will be greatly reduced. Northeast Ohio communities will once again begin to use their assets to their fullest potential.
How we get there?The regional economic development study is clear in its recommendations. By participating in regional plans for the cultivation of local assets and the attraction of new investment, municipal leaders will be able to “increase and create high-quality jobs, retain and attract skilled workers, increase household income and ensure communities keep their local identity.”
This is not to say the path toward this solution will be without obstacles. Many discussions must be had before the concepts discussed here will be possible, and we should not expect to succeed overnight. But we must start somewhere.
In the coming months, these concepts will likely be discussed in greater detail among area government officials, academics, journalists and residents. As an early proponent of this concept, I encourage you to become better acquainted with the study and its implications. We must take action before it is too late, and everyone’s voices must be heard. I look forward to seeing you at the table.
For more information on NOCCA, please visit its web site: www.noccassoc.org. NEO
