Regionalism

Background

A city-county consolidated government is a government in which there has been a formal joining of a city (or cities) with a county government. This consolidation creates one unified governing organization that resumes the responsibilities of both the city and the county.

There are 3,069 county governments in the Unites States, of which just over 30 are city-county consolidated governments. There is presently discussion of city-county consolidation in Oklahoma County. Reasons for city-county consolidation vary, but in general the following could be achieved in Oklahoma County: Cost savings and increased efficiency due to a single countywide road maintenance program, streamlining of public services by consolidation of public safety departments such as fire, police, ambulatory emergency efforts, and sewer/water resources.

Present Status

There has been a push for further examination of regionalism, including County Home Rule, which would allow a vote for a charter change that would alter the governance and make-up of city and county elected officials. For County Home Rule, the state Legislature will have to pass enabling legislation to allow those changes to take place, and it will also require a vote of our citizens to determine/approve any changes to county governance.

Chamber Position

The Chamber supports further examination of city-county consolidation, inclusive of County Home Rule as an option for Oklahoma County.