| 1. TO SAVE MONEY |
Take advantage of economics of scale, especially where fixed costs are high (e.g., infrastructure and equipment) or strong expertise is required.
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| 2. TO DELIVER QUALITY SERVICES |
Specialized areas often require professions beyond the means of small units of government unless they join others to spread the cost (e.g. planners and 24-hour emergency dispatch) and assure high quality.
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| 3. TO ACHIEVE GREATER POLITICAL CLOUT |
Regional marketing for tourism and/or economic development permits better media buys and more comprehensive, sophisticated clout in the marketplace.
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4. TO ACHIEVE ECONOMIC CLOUT
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Regional marketing for tourism and/or economic development permits better media buys and more comprehensive, sophisticated clout in the marketplace.
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5. TO SOLVE A SPECIFIC PROBLEM
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Two heads are better than one, and sharing ideas and resources often permits better problem-solving, often at a reduced cost.
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| 6. TO SHARE SCARCE FEDERAL AND STATE RESOURCES |
Often, state and federal agencies in an era of budget austerity can fund a joint facility or a joint staff position for a new program and thereby serve more people.
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| 7. TO PLAN MORE REALISTICALLY |
In a global economy, any community is dependent upon other communities in its multi-county region for labor and other resources. Indeed, its economy and other aspects of its life are dependent on its state or multi-state region.
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8. TO WORK ON ENVIRONMENTAL AND OTHER CONCERNS
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Among the "boundary-spillover" effects of modem life are environmental impacts on water, air, and other natural resources. Purely local approaches to most environmental problems do not work. An economic example might be that in an area of solid waste tipping fees, failure to coordinate fees can result in over or under-use of a community's facilities by residents and/or non-residents.
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| 9. TO CREATE A SENSE OF LOCAL AND REGIONAL HARMONY |
Officials become acquainted through cooperative efforts, develop communication and trust, and reduce inter-jurisdictional conflict.
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10. TO COMPLEMENT STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES
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By drawing on unique strengths and weaknesses of each community, nearby communities can develop a combined strategic package or position which is more balanced; they may complement one another without duplicating.
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