Recasting the Local Governments Article of the New York Constitution

Abstract

New York State has too many types of local governments, and too many local governments. The total number of local governments is between 4,100 and 4,700, which counts were admittedly incomplete. It was estimated that a full count of local governments is over 10,500. Proposal: Four, and only four, types of local governments: counties (subordinate units of the state), towns (subordinate units of counties), one Metropolitan Government and one Metropolitan Transportation System. Total: about 1,000. The Metropolitan Government would be the substitute for New York City, and the Metropolitan Transportation System would be the substitute for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. All other units of local government would be abolished. Cities and villages are not needed, because the state is urbanized and motorized. Distances of space and time, which made cities and villages sensible, were overcome. Limited-purpose local governments, which are atomizations of government, are undesirable. Assets and liabilities of an abolished governmental unit would be transferred to the state or a county or a town or the Metropolitan Government or the Metropolitan Transportation System, as determined by the Legislature. Other essays about revision of the New York Constitution are: New Preamble and New Bill of Rights Article for the New York Constitution New Suffrage Article for the New York Constitution New Legislature Article for the New York Constitution New Executive Article for the New York Constitution New Officers and Civil Departments Article for the New York Constitution New Judiciary Article for the New York Constitution Eight New Articles for the New York Constitution