Special-purpose district

The special-purpose district (also Special district ; German "purpose district" ) is in the United States a form of inter-municipal cooperation , to which local authorities can unite around a common project to build and manage.

General

As local authorities below the level of a federal state municipalities ( English municipalities ), counties or townships come into consideration. Also school districts are special districts. Not every small community has to afford a large system such as a hydropower plant , because the financing and financial risks would be too high for them and would exceed their risk-bearing capacity. Therefore, several regional authorities are allowed to join together to form a special-purpose district. In terms of form and objectives, it corresponds to the German association .

organs

Special-purpose districts are a separate legal entity with active and passive legitimation and have organs ( board of directors , supervisory board and general assembly ) that are recruited from the founding communities. They are formed according to the law of the state in which they are located.

Projects

The intermunicipal cooperation concerns the construction and management of bridges , airports , cemeteries , ports , highways , hospitals , local public transport , parks , sports stadiums or supply facilities ( waterworks , sewage treatment plants , gas and electricity supply ). A famous example of a special district is the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco , part of the "Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District".

Finances

Special-purpose districts are administratively and financially independent of their member bodies. They have their own revenue sovereignty, which is made up of contributions from member bodies and / or their own income (such as entrance fees , tolls ). Special-purpose districts are subject to Chapter 9 of the US Bankruptcy Code and can become insolvent .

Individual evidence

^ Kathryn A. Foster, The Political Economy of Special-Purpose Government , 1997, p. 79
↑ John Constantine Bollens, Special District Governments in the United States , 1957, p.1
↑ US Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations (Ed.), State laws governing local government structure and administration , March 1993, p. 7
↑ John Constantine Bollens, Special District Governments in the United States for 1957, p.1.

[1] Kathryn A. Foster, The Political Economy of Special-Purpose Government , 1997, p. 79

[2] John Constantine Bollens, Special District Governments in the United States , 1957, p.1

[3] US Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations (Ed.), State laws governing local government structure and administration , March 1993, p. 7

[4] John Constantine Bollens, Special District Governments in the United States for 1957, p.1.