DONALD F. VITALIANO: SPEAKING OUT IS REGIONALISM A PIG IN A POKE?(MAIN)

There seems to be a growing sentiment in local political and media circles that one way to curtail the growing cost of local government is by consolidating government departments or even by the introduction of metropolitan government.

Before this movement gains too much momentum we ought to pause and ask what evidence exists to support consolidation as a means to more efficient provision of public services. In fact, the evidence is quite weak and there are countervailing arguments to the effect that moving toward ``monopoly government'' may make things worse.

The role of local government is to provide the services demanded by residents at the lowest …