One is redrawing the old boundaries to fit the new problems. Because of the rich tradition of local self government, trying to do so would provoke crushing political conflict. Consolidating school districts has led to recurring battles over mascots. 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.