Jacksonville, Florida, consolidated in 1968 after a period of widespread public corruption, problems with the school system, and an inferiority complex.
Sound familiar?
And in the 40 plus years since then, Jacksonville has thrived. They now have an NFL team; their citizens have fewer taxes than in other large Florida cities; and they’re not dependent on tourism.
“Our darkest hour became our finest,” Richard Mullaney, Jacksonville’s general counsel, told the metro charter commission Thursday afternoon. “In my opinion, some forms are local government are better than others. Some provide a competitive structural advantage over others.”
With charter commission members in attendance, as well as sheriff Mark Luttrell, County Commissioner Mike Carpenter, MLGW head Jerry Collins, and Memphis City Council member Shea Flinn, Mullaney gave an overview of Jacksonville before the merger and after.
“What we’ve seen … is a remarkable change in Jacksonville over the past 40 years, and that change has been consolidated government,” he said.
Pre-1968, for instance, different branches of government each had their own legal counsel.
“That model was good for lawyers,” Mullaney said. “It slowed things down, it was very expensive, and it was very difficult to get anything done.”
But getting rid of lawyers isn’t the only reason to consolidate. Mullaney laid out six benefits of the transition for the commission:
