A Regional Approach
By Dustin Swanger, Ed.D.
There is a saying that people are often afraid to “recognize the elephant in the room.” That is, people are reticent to bring up a topic that can seem obvious to many, but that may be so filled with emotion that discussing it is uncomfortable. I suggest that for Fulton and Montgomery Counties “the elephant in the room” is regionalizing our community.
Since I arrived to the area, three and half years ago, I have attended numerous meetings in which regionalization was discussed in a quiet hush. But it is often followed by, “but it would be too difficult to ever have it happen.” Therefore, it falls off of the table. I suggest that the time is ripe to consider, seriously, regionalizing our community.
Fulton County and Montgomery County each have a small population (approximately 52,000 and 48,000 respectively). Each county has the population of a small to medium sized city. Yet, each county has multiple governments including towns, cities, villages, etc.; all with elected officials, staff, equipment, and cost.
We have all complained that our taxes in the region are high, perhaps too high. Yet we hold onto the premise that each of these local governments, agencies, services is critically important to our community. Now, in a fiscal crisis, it is time to consider whether such importance is based more on history and emotion than reality.
While regionalizing our community will not happen overnight, we should consider the benefits of beginning the process in earnest. Can we save tax dollars? Can we maintain services for less cost? Can we position our region better for economic growth? Do we really lose our local identity? These are questions that if we ask, and seek genuine answers, can guide our decision.
There are numerous examples of regional success. Fulton-Montgomery Community College is one in which the two counties agreed to collaborate and now for a $1.4 million investment from each county for the operating budget, FM runs a $16.7 million operation that benefits the entire region. Other not-for-profit organizations have regionalized to gain economies of scale. Several years ago, the Chambers of Commerce in Fulton County combined and we have a much stronger Chamber. Catholic Charities regionalized and created an organization stronger than the “sum of its parts.” And, there are others.
We also have examples of what is, perhaps, not working through a local approach. Heated discussions over water and sewer services in both counties have been blamed for slow economic development. Different local ordinances and regulations can stall a project that crosses municipal lines. Loyalties to the local municipality or the larger development are often in conflict. None of this is the fault of local elected officials. Each is working hard to protect the interest of their local community and the citizens who elected them. However, to grow and prosper, to reduce the tax burden, and to become more attractive to developers, I believe, that we have no choice but to begin to act regionally.
There will be many obstacles and emotions along the way. There will be those who fear a great loss of locality, history, and nostalgia. Such change in our area will be difficult; but long-term worth the effort. If it were easy, there wouldn’t be “an elephant in the room.” There is another saying as well, “nothing worth doing is done easily.”
Dr. Dustin Swanger is President of FM
