ABSTRACT
Local governments in the United States have played different roles in the provision of traditional, municipal-type, and regional services from 1962–2012. Counties accounted for the largest percentage of total local government spending for traditional services, while municipalities were responsible for the largest percentage of spending for municipal-type and regional services. The part that municipalities played in the delivery of both kinds of services, however, declined over time, with special districts playing an enhanced role. Townships played a much smaller role in all service areas. The differing roles were also apparent from an inspection of the percentage of expenditures allocated to deliver services in each group. Whereas counties and townships allotted the highest percentage to traditional services, special districts apportioned the greatest percentage to regional services; municipalities allocated roughly equal percentages to all three service categories, with slightly higher percentages going to traditional and municipal-type services. Several current and developing situations and events, however, could result in changes to these patterns.
