The idea of consolidating city and county governments isn't new.
Merging the two government structures has been considered in various places around the country since the 1800s. Many point to the joining of New Orleans and Orleans Parish in 1805 as one of the earliest examples.
In the more than 200 years since then, city-county mergers have been studied, debated, approved and rejected from Massachusetts to California.
For Omaha and Douglas County, it's worth looking at whether consolidating some services would save taxpayer dollars. A modest proposal before the Nebraska Legislature is a good place to start.
Legislative Bill 344 would require city and county officials to talk it over by creating a commission to review and plan for merging governmental services in the metro area. Among the possibilities: consolidating the city and county crime labs, working on a county-wide transportation plan and bringing together city and county law enforcement.
All would have a voice. Two members of the commission would be chosen by the Omaha mayor, two by the Omaha City Council, four by the Douglas County Board and one from each of the other towns in the county. The group would have a July 1, 2013, deadline.
State Sen. Brad Ashford of Omaha, a longtime proponent of a city-county merger, says the proposal would be different from previous efforts. It would have the Legislature's weight behind it, for one.
Numerous studies of city-county mergers around the country have offered solid arguments that consolidation can lower costs through economies of scale, eliminate duplication of services and help boost regional cooperation and economic development efforts. (Already, Omaha and Douglas County are looking at a study on whether the governments' combined purchasing operation could save more money.)
The numerous city-county studies also have found that completing a successful merger isn't easy. There's no one-size-fits-all model.
Voters in many places have said no, often voicing concerns about responsiveness of the proposed new government. Success requires convincing residents that one is better than two, and it takes local officials working in tandem, even if that means eliminating some of their own jobs.
Some metro-area senators have voiced skepticism that the proposed commission would get beyond turf battles, and others wonder what would happen if the study group could not reach agreement on a plan.
Valid questions. Still, the metro area keeps growing and tax dollars are always precious.
It may be an old idea, but it's worth a new look.
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