Issues and alternatives

"Are there alternatives for organizing government at the local level? Yes, no, and perhaps. One or more options are permitted by current law for a small number of governments. Many now have no options offered to them. Numerous options thought to have merit have been proposed as enabling legislation but failed to gain adoption. In addition, among the few alternatives legally permissible, some have political liabilities rendering them unusable. To consider alternatives, it is probably best to begin with those available legally."--First paragraph.John Ballard (Local Government Specialist, University of Missouri Extension)Revised 1978 3