Excessive Fragmentation: PA has Too Many Local Governments

Pennsylvania has nearly 2,600 local governments and a few thousand quasi-governmental units. Sixty percent of local governments in PA have populations under 2,500. This excessive fragmentation thwarts local governments’ ability to effectively and efficiently deliver services. The answer? While easier said than done, municipal consolidations/mergers must be encouraged and small, non-viable units should be discouraged, possibly through withholding of state funding. See Terry Madonna's op-ed in the Philadelphia Inquirer for more background.