Too Much Government For Good Collaboration?
A new study finds the metropolitan area between Milwaukee and Chicago has far more governmental units than larger — and more efficient — metropolitan areas worldwide.
With more than 2,100 separate government entities in the Chicago-Milwaukee metropolitan area, cooperation — and the efficiency that can bring — is difficult, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel is reporting.
The newspaper reported on a European think tank's finding that the governmental sprawl of the Midwestern megalopolis is bigger than other, larger metropolitan areas worldwide. For example, in the greater London area, the Journal Sentinel reports, "a mere 34 government entities look after all the public safety, services, transportation, zoning and schools." Toronto has 28, the newspaper reports, and Paris clocks in at more than 1,400.
From the Journal Sentinel article:
The two adjoining metro regions (of Milwaukee and Chicago) are conjoined by common industries, highways and shoreline but splintered into a profusion of 2,155 separate entities of government.
That welter of inefficiencies and jurisdictional rivalries — with Wisconsinites proudly poaching Illinois companies and balking at joint transportation policies — undermine what otherwise could become a vibrant economic bloc with the potential to lift both regions in international rankings, according to findings this year from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.
The OECD says Chicago is at "a tipping point." The report itself focused on thematic policy issues like effectiveness and coordination of workforce development programs, capacity for innovation, its role as a center for logistics on the continent, and its capacity to encourage green growth.
The Paris-based OECD says while the area is one of the richest regions in the world, it is in danger of not fulfilling its potential, and must "better match skills to jobs, become more innovative and improve its transportation networks."
One key finding: "If employment in the Chicago Tri-State metro-region had grown at the national rate over the past 20 years, the region would have almost 600,000 additional jobs today."
The OECD says transportation is part of that. Interstate 94 connects Chicago and Milwaukee, but attempts to get mass transit running between the cities has been more difficult. Trains, in particular, have met with resistance. Gov. Scott Walker declined $810 million in federal funds that would have helped pay for a high-speed rail line that would have connected Madison and Milwaukee. That money later went to other states.
The proposed KRM rail line — which would have connected Kenosha, Racine and Milwaukee — was also stopped by legislators. That train would have hooked the Milwaukee area into the Metra rail network that serves Chicago and its suburbs. The Metra's only Wisconsin stop is in Kenosha.
The Journal Sentinel and the Lubar Fund for Public Policy Research at Marquette Law School are sponsoring a conference Tuesday looking at Milwaukee's role in the Tri-State area. The sold-out event will be streamed live.
a quiet conservative
9:32 pm on Sunday, July 15, 2012
Oh Yes, Europe Knows Best how to run things...i.e. Greece, Spain,France and the European Union
a quiet conservative
9:46 pm on Sunday, July 15, 2012
As for the Rail money..that was not even a DOWN PAYMENT on the Milwaukee to Madison based line since it would be used to buy property all the way thru and to ensure that the "High Speed" Rail was only going to have part of the setup and maybe 1/3 of the construction costs covered.
Look to California...they thought they were going to need 25 to 30 BILLION (1,000 MILLION) Dollars and now their cost estimates for the shortested, least traveled section is OVER 125 BILLION DOLLARS and the US Government is only providing 10 to 15 Billion.
Nice FAIL and passing of the BILL
Jay Sykes
8:57 am on Monday, July 16, 2012
The federal money Walker turned down was not enough for a High Speed Rail line. It was only enough to cover capital costs to upgrade a freight line to share the rails with passenger service. High speed rail costs run $50-$80 million dollars/per mile;the federal money ($810 million dollars) would have bought a 10 or 15 mile system; downtown Milwaukee to Brookfield Square or maybe Goerke's Corners.
John
10:00 pm on Sunday, July 15, 2012
I love how California who had a 16 billion dollar deficit, is now spending an ESTIMATED 68 billion on a rail line to no where.
They should have spent the money on subways or El's in LA.
Thank God we had Walker who told Obammy and the Big Goverment, tax and spend Dems in DC to shove it. We were 3 billion in deficit before walker, and about to take on another Billion over an unneeded train.
Now we are balanced. Thank you Scott Walker, for not turning us into California, Illinois, or Michigan. Failed states.
Steve ®
10:01 am on Monday, July 16, 2012
Unfortunately Tom Barrett wants to spend 100 million of all our deficit tax money on a street car that goes 2 miles. Liberalism has no other outcome but failure.
David Tatarowicz
11:10 am on Monday, July 16, 2012
@John Remember that figures don't lie but liars figure --- Walker has certified to the Feds that our budget is not balanced to get a waiver for Medicaid !!! Politicians slip back and forth from cash accounting to accrual when it suits their purposes.
Walker did not balance the budget --- he just put a whole bunch on the old credit card !!! Deficit vs Debt.
Frances Martin
7:52 am on Monday, July 16, 2012
we will remain a backwater while our educated young move to the east and west coasts. (frankly, it's ok with me because I like the quiet rural life within 1.5 hours of the Chicago Loop). One thing I've learned in my pretty long life,though, is that not taking a chance on potential but not certain benefit is itself a risk. The crosscountry railroads were a risk, too,when they were built.
John
2:26 am on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
I was born and raised in Chicago. I moved my young son and wife to the suburbs.... Enter mass transit, and forced section 8 housing on the community. (those go hand in hand!) Next thing I know the schools were innudated with inner city "gangstas" who were committing crimes ranging from home invasions, to rapes, to breaking into cars, to drug dealing, while actively recruiting suburban kids. I watched my dream of getting out, and giving my kid a chance deteriorate.
I moved to Ozaukee 7 years ago when my son was entering kindergarden. I took a huge pay cut, and saved to get out. I now have a safe, clean, non ghetto influence around my family. I earned it. I set a goal and achieved it.
You don't want this trash moving to your doorstep, demanding you pay for it's living expenses and food, and destroying your quality of life, on your dime.
No mass transit. No criminals who wouldn't work their way out of that, and not in my schools... on my dime.
Nah, pass. I worked hard for my quality of life. I don't need that trash here. Keep it in Chicago, or Milwaukee where they fled during the 80s when welfare in WI was plentiful. You bleeding hearts live with the filth. I choose not to.
Pete
7:52 am on Monday, July 16, 2012
Let's have the European union tell us how to manage our government affairs. They are the model of failed socialism! Virtually every country except Germany is insolvent, great example to follow. Spain has 25% unemployment and raised their national sale tax (VAT) to 21%. Ireland, Italy, Potugal, Spain, France, and Greece are broke and needed bail outs from Germany.
Let's re-elect Obama so we can be a western European Socialist nation also, it seem to work so well! Is that the future you want for your kids and grandkids? I know I don't.
Frances Martin
7:57 am on Monday, July 16, 2012
Pete--you left out the prosperous, and by your definition,socialist,Scandinavian countries-I guess they (and Germany) don't fit your preconceptions.
Ed Willing
10:39 am on Monday, July 16, 2012
Actually youre right, Frances.
Those miniature, energy and mineral supported service countries that are nonetheless suffering economic back logging that will one day burst, and in some cases, already is.
I wouldnt be adding Germany to that mix. They aren't exactly a model.
So convenient that when liberal policies run this nation into the ground, you look to other liberal nations as an example. Yet none of them are comparable, and most of them are worse off than we are. ;)
The main point of this article, the 2,100 duplicative, unnecessary, uncooperative government agencies, is the problem.
European socialism is beside the point.
Nick Schweitzer
10:29 am on Monday, July 16, 2012
The issue isn't too much government stopping collaboration. The issue is too much government, without voter accountability. Look at Milwaukee County alone. EVERY municipality in Milwaukee County is a city, with police, fire, etc. And yet, we still have an expensive County Government mechanism, much of which creates unnecessary duplication and inefficiency.
How many different little boards are there with taxing powers which are not DIRECTLY elected? MMSD, MATC, and others are appointed boards, all of which have taxing power. That is real issue with having too many government entities.
Ed Willing
10:35 am on Monday, July 16, 2012
While this article makes some very good points about local governments duplicating services that are completely unnecessary it also is trying to make case for rail money that is completely unrelated.
The high speed rail was unnecessary and the cost/benefit wasn't there.
Imaginethis, Walker saved the local gvmts even further difficulty by eliminating the funding for the Regional Transportation Authority.... ANOTHER government agency making mistakes.
Turning down the rail was the right thing to do. The money should have been refunded to taxpayers, not given to other states.
a quiet conservative
10:42 am on Monday, July 16, 2012
Plus , would that many people actually RIDE the RAILS to justify it's cost?
Skip Simonsen
11:18 am on Monday, July 16, 2012
We keep moving toward joint services to save money. Over the years we've consolidated education, fire services, policing, joint dispatch, etc. We would save a lot of money if the was just one government east of I-94. Much more efficient purchasing power, less duplication of administration, and better regional planning.
Chris Larsen
11:39 am on Monday, July 16, 2012
Skip,
Consolidated education IS NOT working well. The only consolidated fire service is between Sturtevant and Mt Pleasant, and you have seen in the press how MT Pleasant is handling that one. Policing IS NOT consolidated. Joint dispatch was a good thing, but it should stop there. People outside of the city of Racine do not want to become the city of Racine, People live in Sturtevant for a reason - it's not Racine and they like the quality of life living in a small village close to a city offers. One size does not fit all, and the EU is in such sad shape they shouldn't be offering advise to anyone.
Chris Larsen
11:40 am on Monday, July 16, 2012
*advice
Pete
11:45 am on Monday, July 16, 2012
Look at the governments east of I-94 are any of them efficient? I supoose you would like the super star hero Tom Barrett to run this mega government from Milwaukke to it Illinois border. How in the world would you police and protect an area that large with our layers and layers of government. Central governments just dont function efficiently.
Next I suppose a world government would be in the making headed by.... Barack Obama who else! That concept is a Joke!
Rachel Holley Sciortino
12:06 pm on Monday, July 16, 2012
Not surprising this commentary has devolved to a political pi**ing match. What I heard is that a study has revealed we would be a stronger economic force if Chicago, SE Wisco and and Indiana worked together to attract more employers and to make living and working here easier/more attractive. That would help everyone regardless of political affiliation. My husband commutes over an hour a day to Racine, I have worked in and commuted to Chicago in the past and in these times -- many are considering longer commutes to jobs out of state. It would be awesome to have more than a car as an option for this kind of daily transportation need. You need not look to Europe -- New York does it just fine. This should not be a political fight -- it's reality that the work world is changing and we have to be willing to adapt to the changing environment for business. Collaboration, compromise and co-creation work. Can't this be about making our tri-state area better for us all instead of satisfying someone's political agenda? Whatever duplication and inefficiencies exist -- rest assured the blame is not exclusively on one party - it's more likely a result of changing administrations every four years.
J. B. Schmidt
12:35 pm on Monday, July 16, 2012
Too many roosters in the hen house. Since we as a people have allowed our government officials to have as much power as they do, they aren't going to be willing to sacrifice that, even it means the betterment of society.
Bam Bam Ruble
3:12 pm on Monday, July 16, 2012
Yo Way too many piggies wif EBT cards out dere, too many democrats who don' werk otay buh-weet
Lyle Ruble
6:48 am on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
I would be LMAO, if the comments hadn't been so pathetic. It's obvious that the people on this thread have absolutely no idea what the OECD is. Since its founding in 1960, it is one of the premier global organizations for accumulating data and disseminating information that supports free markets, democracy, collaboration and cooperation. They perform a service similar to the US Census Bureau on global economic activity. Before you go "hammering" something you need to get up to speed. Conservative parochialism strikes again!
Tansandy
6:54 am on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
When all the talking heads say we need to consolidate service to save money, isn't that what the fine people that put together Racine Unified told us???? How's that working for us?????
Frances Martin
7:07 am on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Thank you, Lyle, for your thoughtful and rational comment. I also wonder if all you "centralized government doesn't work" folks out there aren't confused by China's economic success. And no, I'm not a communist nor aspire for the US to go that route, but do want to make the point that while over-simplified analyses are appealing , they're usually not very helpful. Wouldn't it be useful if we, the citizens, could discuss pros and cons of a situation before we arrived at a viewpoint?
Bob McBride
8:03 am on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
The only joint transportation system that seems to concern certain folks is, once again, trains. We have a joint transportation system in place. It's called the I-system. We also do have some commuter train capabilities in place now. Every argument I've seen regarding trains seems to revolve around want versus need. It would be nice to have more frequent Chicago/Milw train service so people wouldn't have to drive. It would be nice to have high speed rail between Milwaukee and Madison so people who don't like to drive didn't have to. It would be nice to have a 2-1/2 mile loop in downtown Milwaukee...well...just because it would. Increased rail transportation has nothing to do with the situation noted in the study.
As for the study itself - good to know, I guess, but hardly a surprise. We can't even get contiguous localities inside either state to cooperate, much less reach out across the Illinois/Wisconsin border. And, again, if we're not attracting business now, why is it assumed that a combined effort to promote the area will result in a change in that regard? Is the reason we're not growing businesses here because we haven't got a cooperative promotional/operational effort in place, or because most folks would really rather just live somewhere other than Wisconsin/Illinois, if they can do so? The major trend as it relates to jobs is not commuting from one state to another, rather it's being able to work from pretty much any locality one wishes to call home.