| Governments at all levels and locations within the | | | | workforce and costs at the state level by |
| United States, as well as many worldwide, have | | | | approximately $1 million annually. The only |
| been going through tremendous changes over the | | | | drawbacks to this is that the workload for |
| past two decades, which include improved | | | | remaining staff is increased, but as demonstrated |
| customer service initiatives, citizen satisfaction | | | | by the OPPAGA's report, decentralization results |
| efforts, streamlining agencies, flattening | | | | in big gains for the financial realm for the entire |
| hierarchies, and continuous economic, | | | | state. |
| redevelopment and growth management issues. | | | | Decentralization is designed to enhance the |
| State governments, especially larger ones, are | | | | efficiency and responsiveness of lower levels of |
| becoming more centralized in order to deal with | | | | government by allowing the localities more control |
| financial, legal, political and administrative | | | | over spending. Typically, counties will only |
| relationships. In the State of Florida, as the | | | | contribute to program funding if they are involved |
| never-ending quest for best government | | | | administratively. A negative situation occurs when |
| measures and practices are constantly being | | | | decentralization results in increased costs for |
| sought, it is important to examine the opposing | | | | services provided to constituents of local |
| viewpoints regarding the decentralization of | | | | governments in the way of higher taxes. A |
| government for local decision-making. | | | | politically hot issue these days are the increasing |
| Yes there are pros and cons to the centralization | | | | costs of providing police, fire and emergency |
| of government in Florida and size often dictates | | | | medical services to local governments. These |
| the need for centrality. Florida is not only growing | | | | costs seem to increase significantly every year in |
| faster than any other part of the country, it has | | | | municipalities and in county governments. |
| very large areas of separation between its urban | | | | Cooperation among police and fire departments |
| centers. Voters in South Florida may differ vastly | | | | has emerged as an effective way to deal with an |
| in opinions than the voters in the Keys or the | | | | environment of increasing needs, rising costs and |
| Panhandle areas. It has been said that no one | | | | decentralized service delivery. Successful mergers |
| metropolitan area can dominate Tallahassee | | | | of departments, inter-local agreements and use of |
| politics. With such a vast difference in geography | | | | volunteers can improve service delivery and |
| and diversity in politically strong areas, it is difficult | | | | reduced taxpayer costs. Centralizing fire |
| to manage government in Florida from one point | | | | departments with a County would result in better |
| of view or one part of the state. The members | | | | response times and coordination, as well as, |
| of the Florida Legislature, who are representatives | | | | decreased costs to citizens. The decentralization |
| of the different localities, can cause an effect on | | | | of fire departments from a county to each |
| one area that they do not represent. Since this | | | | municipality within a county is an option that |
| state also varies greatly in its location of | | | | appears to have local value in the beginning, but |
| resources, economic markets and products, to | | | | often in order to keep up with increasing |
| name a few, decentralization would appear to me | | | | demands, population and customer satisfaction, |
| to be a better fit, however, as my findings will | | | | centralization seems often provides the solution. |
| suggest, there is always a benefit for either | | | | Legal Arena |
| centralization or decentralization in certain areas | | | | In Florida, law enforcement and regulatory |
| depending on needs, past performance, intended | | | | agencies may take a case to either to local state |
| outcomes and political climate. | | | | attorney or to the Office of Prosecution at the |
| Administrative Relationships | | | | state level. Although this choice enhances Florida |
| With the signing of the Personal Responsibility and | | | | law enforcement's ability to aggressively fight |
| Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, the | | | | crime, the debate as to whether this system is |
| federal government passed to the states the | | | | effective is continuous. Reports have shown that |
| responsibility for public assistance to families with | | | | the state office not only collects more money for |
| children. This allowed the states flexibility in | | | | victims and government agencies, but that it has |
| managing their own programs and through time | | | | a very high prosecutorial record. There are certain |
| has caused states to look at increasing the | | | | cases that are better suited for statewide |
| responsibilities of localities according to the New | | | | prosecution and those that are better handled |
| Federalism National Survey of America's Families | | | | locally. If the office of statewide prosecution were |
| by The Urban Institute. The State of Florida | | | | to be eliminated, there would be consequences |
| embraced this reform and created the Work and | | | | that state and local law enforcement would not |
| Gain Economic Self-Sufficiency Program or | | | | want to face. It is evident that the legal needs of |
| WAGES. Due to this and other changes taken in | | | | Florida are vast and that a balance between |
| Florida, dramatic changes have occurred in the | | | | centralization and decentralization is needed. |
| administration and delivery of social services. The | | | | Conclusion |
| responsibility for running programs, and through | | | | It is important for localities to continue to be |
| the use of contracts, the management and | | | | growing providers of services and employment |
| administering of services has shifted from the | | | | for the benefit of all citizens. We are in an |
| state to the local level. Local governments will | | | | environment in South Florida where there are a |
| often support programs that they are more | | | | great number of municipalities within county |
| involved with administratively than ones in which | | | | borders and intergovernmental administration at |
| they have very little control and less autonomy. In | | | | the local level is very complex and politically |
| order to provide better services to constituents in | | | | cumbersome. Decentralization is a government |
| all of the localities, it is necessary to shift | | | | reform that is at the forefront of the changes |
| responsibility and authority to employees nearer | | | | which are occurring in Florida now, especially given |
| to these areas. | | | | the current economic climate. When faced with |
| Financial Realm | | | | increased financial burdens placed upon localities |
| Due to the recent population explosion and | | | | due to the decentralization of services such as |
| growing needs, Florida expended an unusual effort | | | | health and education sometimes run counter to |
| at predicting its financial future. Managing for | | | | worldwide trends towards decentralization and |
| results, performance based budgeting, tracking | | | | actually results in government setbacks. It is |
| state expenditures and other efforts to increase | | | | obvious that decentralization is the answer for |
| accountability have been a constant focus of | | | | many deficiencies found in government and that |
| Florida state government. The process of | | | | this is a current trend. However, local |
| decentralization and the effect on local | | | | governments can be financially hurt by unfunded |
| government may include any combination of block | | | | mandates and growing needs. Results based |
| grants from state to county or municipal | | | | management and reporting are new concepts |
| governments reduced aid from the federal | | | | that takes some getting used to and |
| government that get addressed at the state level | | | | unfortunately many good programs suffer or do |
| and then trickle down to local levels, or | | | | not get adequate funding because of the |
| decentralization of state agencies to provide | | | | ineffective reporting that is occurring by state and |
| closer and more cost-effective services to local | | | | local governments. This is highly prevalent when |
| areas. A review of the decentralization of the | | | | the improper or ineffective application of |
| teacher certification renewal process, as reported | | | | performance measurement to agencies' activities |
| by the State of Florida's Office of Program Policy | | | | occurs. Additionally, the transitioning of services |
| Analysis and Government Accountability, showed | | | | and programs to lower levels of government is |
| that the early effects of decentralization were | | | | still an unsettling and uncertain one at times, but |
| the elimination of duplication of work by state and | | | | with good working relationships, proper |
| district offices, increased service efficiency and | | | | management, and strong alliances between local |
| increased district funding flexibility. The report also | | | | governments with each other and the state, the |
| demonstrates that decentralization reduces the | | | | benefits will outweigh any setbacks. |
| Department's Bureau of Teacher Certification | | | | |
