Consolidated government comes from citizens

Harry Hayes explains the different types of local
government in Georgia.

     During a presentation to University of Georgia journalism students Monday, Harry Hayes said that creating consolidated government between different local governments is a circuitous process.

     “It is a referendum of people voting to consolidate a city government,” said Hayes, who focuses on local government outreach at the Carl Vinson Institute of Government at the university.

     With differing opinions of citizens and various political views within local government systems, it can be difficult to pass a vote to combine city-county governments. Athens-Clarke County did not become consolidated until the fourth time it was voted on.

    “It was a grassroots initiative,” said Hayes on when the county became consolidated. “It was literally privately funded and driven by citizens who were interested in this happening.”

     Although it is more common where there is just one large city involved, consolidation can occur where there is more than one city and county government involved. In Georgia, a consolidated government has all the powers of both a city and a county, which can be beneficial in the daily government proceedings.