Municipal planning organizations, also sometimes known as councils of governments, are large super-regional governmental bodies. These groups may contain representatives from a series of local-level governments such as towns, cities and counties, and could also include representatives from area public trusts such as mass transit trusts.
Municipal planning organizations help map out a region's future.
Long-Range Transportation Planning
Municipal planning organizations and councils of government play a very important role in steering the allocation of federal transportation funding. These groups create extremely long-range planning documents which may tentatively allocate funding for as many as 30 years into the future. This long-term planning process is usually necessary for the member communities to qualify for federal transportation funding. The transportation planning requirements may apply to state and local road infrastructure, the continued enhancement of mass transit, and the creation of secondary transportation opportunities such as the development of bike paths and pedestrian walkways.
Other Responsibilities
State governments may assign municipal planning organizations with additional responsibilities, such as coordinating regional water resource plans, governance of 911 and emergency response districts, or maybe even work force development responsibilities. In some cases. the municipal planning organization might be utilized by state government as a pass-through entity for various grant programs, such as those by which local governments can use state funds for community development projects.
Proportional Voting
The membership of the municipal planning organization is typically weighted according to the population of various membership entities. The weighted voting power may mean that a member of the board who represents a large metropolitan area has a much stronger vote than a representative of a small suburb on the same board.
Criticisms
Due to their super-regional government status, municipal planning organizations operate as a fourth layer of government between state and local governments. Because there is little public awareness of the existence of these organizations, and because the membership of these boards consists of voting members who are appointed by a wide range of towns, cities, counties or public trusts, it can be difficult for the voice of the citizens to be effectively communicated to the membership.
Lack of Direct Elections
If the board takes action that is detrimental to the well-being of the citizenry, there is little direct way for the citizens to hold the board responsible because the membership of the board is not likely to be directly elected by the people.
Tags: planning organizations, because membership, cities counties, federal transportation, federal transportation funding