Summary of Staff Papers on Governmental Organization for Metropolitan Southeast Michigan
January 1965

INTRODUCTION

In the six-county Southeast Michigan Metropolitan Area, and in other regions, optimum service areas for many local governmental functions transcend the boundaries and legal jurisdiction of any one of the units of government in the region. This study was undertaken by the Citizens Research Council of Michigan, at the request of the Metropolitan Fund, Inc., in an attempt to discover the methods and instrumentalities that have been or might be utilized by the more than 400 local units of government in the Southeast Michigan area to accommodate to this fragmentation of service areas. The experience of other metropolitan areas with similar problems is also examined.
Under the agreement with the Metropolitan Fund, Inc., the Citizens Research Council of Michigan is responsible for the factual research, while conclusions relating to a recommended future course of action are the responsibility of a Policy Committee appointed by the Metropolitan Fund, Inc. The research studies are presented in the Staff Papers on Governmental Organization for Metropolitan Southeast Michigan and in the Summary of Staff Papers. The staff papers were prepared by the Research Council staff and by the following special consultants:
Dr. Alvin D. Sokolow, Assistant Professor, Institute for Community Development, Michigan State University, prepared the staff paper on “Annexation and Incorporation in Michigan: An Evaluation of the Boundary Commission Plan.”
Dr. Louis L. Friedland, Professor of Political Science, Wayne State University, prepared the staff paper on “Authorities and Special Districts.”
Dr. William R. Gable, Associate Professor of Political Science and Assistant Director, Institute of Public Administration, The University of Michigan, prepared the staff paper on the “Metropolitan Conference or Council.”
The Summary of Staff Papers was prepared by the Research Council staff on the basis of the data presented in the staff papers, including those staff papers prepared by the special consultants. The Research Council, however, assumes sole responsibility for the Summary.
The Research Council is indebted to the members of the Policy Committee and to the staff of the Metropolitan Fund, Inc., for their helpful suggestions on the study design, and to the hundreds of local government officials who provided information for this study.