Extensive forced consolidations, mergers, and restructuring would surely be worse. The more Wisconsin grows, the more its policy problems fail to fit political boundaries. Some functions are local, some are state, and some are in between. More policy problems cross jurisdictional lines. Many management tactics work most efficiently when jurisdictions join together.
New technologies make it possible to define multi-jurisdictional service delivery areas.
Moreover, the very nature of the 21 st century economy requires innovative thinking about economic development. The state needs to see itself as a collection of regional economies. Its role is to craft policy to make each of its regions strong. On the other hand, economic development is based on the strength of the state s regions. Only by doing so will the state provide the quality of life its citizens, now and in the future, deserve.