The Center for Intergovernmental Relations

Intergovernmental Systems

All levels of government—federal, state and local—face significant challenges when responding to the needs of our nation.  Current challenges include an aging population and globalization of markets, as well as the need to deliver public services within a tightly constrained budget environment.  To effectively respond to public needs, the Academy believes it will be necessary to strengthen the intergovernmental system by increasing the levels of trust and understanding among stakeholders.

Intergovernmental Forums

In the late 1950’s, Congress established the federal Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations (ACIR).  This Commission, in part, was established to allow a continuing dialogue to ensue among leaders of all levels of government.  With the abolition of ACIR a decade ago, a formal dialogue process for the various levels of government has been missing in public administration.  

In 2006, the Academy worked in cooperation with the major constituency organizations for leaders of state and local governments to complete a successful demonstration of a new dialogue process employing study-based, Intergovernmental Forums.

The purpose of Intergovernmental Forums is to establish a process characterized by fact-based, stakeholder informed, open dialogue to develop solutions on public issues within the intergovernmental system. Principals designated to the first Intergovernmental Forum on Revenue Systems included representatives from the Administration, Capitol Hill, as well as the “Big Seven” organizations: the National Academy Of Public Administration, the International City/County Management Association (ICMA), the National League of Cities (NLC), the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), the Council of State Governments (CGA), the National Governors Association (NGA) and the National Association of Counties (NACo).

The Intergovernmental Forum on Revenue Systems completed its year-long study work early in 2006, with the release of a Report Summary in July 2006. The Full Report from the Intergovernmental Forum on Revenue Systems will be released in 2007.  The Intergovernmental Forum on Revenue Systems was chaired by Academy Fellow Paul Posner.

With the success of the Intergovernmental Forum: Revenue Systems, the cooperating organizations have adopted a two-year plan to focus on the major public finance areas within the intergovernmental system. The second Intergovernmental Forum: Transportation Finance was launched in December 2006.  Topics for future Intergovernmental Forums may include healthcare, infrastructure, homeland security and emergency response, and support for our aging population.

Intergovernmental News

• Intergovernmental Forum: Transportation Finance–December 2006.  The nation’s network of highways, roads, bridges, and light rail is a critical asset whose financing comes from all levels of government, as well as the private sector.  Given the population and economic growth anticipated over the coming decades, the nation will face tough decisions about how to meet additional surface transportation demands.  Many of the most critical decisions will involve all levels of government addressing a range of policy and practical issues.  This Intergovernmental Forum will complete its study efforts and deliberations by the summer of 2007.  It will analyze the current state of transportation financing, examine the appropriate roles of each level of government, and consider the relationship between transportation and other policy areas.  The Forum’s final report will contain findings and recommendations on the governance policies needed to support the surface transportation system, as well as the appropriate balance between transportation policy and other public needs.

• Federal System Standing Panel Program–November 2006.  The Academy recognizes the need to have a continuing focus on critical aspects of governance and public administration and maintains a Standing Panel on the Federal System.  This Standing Panel continues to focus attention on a number of critical topics where all three levels of government are involved.  Its most recent discussion focused on the American health care system, with a particular emphasis on Medicaid, a program for low-income persons whose financing is shared by all levels of government and primarily administered under state government rules and administrative efforts.  Academy Fellow Ray Scheppach, Executive Director, National Governors Association, was a featured commenter in a broad ranging discussion held in November 2006.
  

Intergovernmental Research Notes

• National Research Agenda for Intergovernmental Relations–2006.  Five priority areas were spotlighted in the National Research Agenda for Intergovernmental Relations (2006).  The Academy’s program panel finished its study in 2005.  The study’s report focuses on an agenda of support for improving our capacity to perform intergovernmental research highlighting capacity issues, research design considerations, and offers commentary on several priority areas.  The recommendations and spotlighted research deserve the attention of stakeholders and reinforce the importance of intergovernmental research, polling and statistics.
  

Reports and Roundtables

• Intergovernmental Forum: Revenue System of the United States–July 2006.  The Intergovernmental Forum’s summary report noted that the way our nation’s tax system is designed determines whether the revenue system achieves the goals of equity, efficiency, simplicity, revenue sufficiency, and administrability.  The report from the first Intergovernmental Forum: Revenue Systems highlights the major themes, challenges and solutions shared among the Forum participants, during their year-long period of study.  Chaired by Academy Fellow Paul Posner, participants included elected members from the Administration and Congress, as well as a consortium of organizations representing state and local officials.
  
  
• Beyond Preemption–July 2006.  Increasing federal preemption of state and local responsibilities, authorities, and revenue sources requires a new strategy that involves stakeholders at every level of government, according to a report issued by an Academy Panel.  Prepared for the National Governors Association, the report highlights the complex challenges created by preemption and includes practical recommendations for our nation’s leaders to explore.  The Academy Panel found that federal preemption, coupled with unfunded mandates, are increasing and likely to continue.  The Panel urged that federal preemptions be used only as a last resort, with intergovernmental partnerships emphasized as an alternative.
  
  
• Ensuring the Future Prosperity of America: Addressing the Fiscal Future–December 2005.  The Academy issued its report, “Ensuring the Future Prosperity of America: Addressing the Fiscal Future,” which focused on the very serious long-term fiscal challenges facing all levels of government. 
  
  
• Intergovernmental Connections between Corrections and Public Health Systems–2006.  Through the sponsorship of a roundtable, the Academy’s committee continues to encourage improvements in the systems of corrections and community care.