Public Budgeting in Context

Chapter FiveBudget Foundations in US Local Governments

[In the United States], the state-local relationship is not one between sovereign governments. The states are by law the masters of these local governments; that is, the relationship is unitary.

—J. Richard Aronson and John L. Hilley, Financing State and Local Governments, (4^th ed.)

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

After reading this chapter, you should be able to

• Distinguish among types of local governments that exist in the United States
• Articulate the services and programs that different US local governments deliver
• Understand the legal foundations for local government budgeting and operations in the United States
• Describe the incorporation process of cities in the United States
• Access data ...