VALUABLE PARTNERSHIPS: THE REGIONAL BENEFITS OF, INTERLOCAL CONTRACTS FOR TEXAS CITIES

Abstract

Local governing units have long utilized interlocal contracts and agreements to create more effective and efficient provision of public goods and services by reducing costs, creating scalable economies, and eliminating service duplication. In fact, the practice among Texas municipalities dates back to 1857. Yet there is little in the way of empirical studies of the nature and benefits of contracting among Texas cities and towns since 1996. There is also a research gap analyzing how interlocal contracting encourages intergovernmental cooperation while also yielding the perceived benefits of regional government among participating jurisdictions. This mixed method study presents the results of a statewide online survey of Texas city managers that probes the contracting activity of their municipalities. The study also includes a case study utilizing open-ended interviews with selected respondents as well as an analysis of archived public documents to determine whether intergovernmental contractual activity truly saves local jurisdictions money. The research question asks whether interlocal contracting can yield the benefits of regional government for Texas cities and towns while also encouraging and facilitating regional cooperation among local governing units. This study measures and analyzes the use, structure, and benefits of interlocal contracting as well as determining how the practice fosters horizontal intergovernmental cooperation.