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More Money or More Problems? Assessing the Fiscal Impact of Consolidation in Macon-Bibb County, Georgia

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  • Acuff, Christopher

Abstract

Attempts to create consolidated city-county governments have persisted in recent decades, with many local government reformers touting this type of organizational change as a solution to a number of challenges in metropolitan areas. Overall, research in this area has generally shown no conclusive outcomes related to achieving greater efficiencies as measured by a reduction in expenditures. However, the 2014 consolidation of Macon-Bibb County, Georgia presents an opportunity to explore a substantively important case due to a mandated twenty percent reduction in expenditures over a five-year period. This analysis finds that while officials generally met their goal of reducing budgeted expenditures, an analysis of actual expenditures and questions pertaining to longer-term outcomes, including reductions in staffing, performance, and credit ratings may be a cautionary tale for similar efforts in the future.

Suggested Citation

  • Acuff, Christopher, 2023. "More Money or More Problems? Assessing the Fiscal Impact of Consolidation in Macon-Bibb County, Georgia," SocArXiv as3pb, Center for Open Science.
    • Handle: RePEc:osf:socarx:as3pb
    DOI: 10.31219/osf.io/as3pb
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    References listed on IDEAS

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