Blog 1: Relationship between State and Local Government

Blog Topic #1: Why is there tension between the state and local levels of government? In what ways is this tension healthy for our political system overall?

            

   “Localities enjoy their own sources of revenue property taxes, user fees, and business license fees- but depend on the states for much of their income. They suffer the frustration of having to cope with rising expenditure demands from their residents while their authority to raise new monies is highly circumscribed by state law” (239).          

There is tension between the State and Local government when dealing with policies and funding. Local governments want more money and “more control over how it is spent and the independent power to raise it” (240). Local government has been demanding “legal capacity to raise additional revenues themselves, especially through local option sales and income taxes (240). Even though aid to local government has had a steady increase over the years, the local government want more control over things in their jurisdictions. The needs/wants from local government keep states on their toes because they have to make sure policies and funding is disturbed “fairly”.