During the fall semester, the MPA capstone team will conduct research (e.g. literature review, case studies) to better understand the service needs of West Burlington and Burlington, as well as locating effective approaches undertaken by other communities. During Spring semester, the team will focus on engaging stakeholders, analyzing existing local conditions, cost/benefit analyses, and developing recommendations.  

Community leaders in West Burlington (pop. 3,162) and Burlington (pop. 23,611) are interested in a study exploring opportunities to share/merge some local government department-level services. Rather than each community providing essential services individually, strategic collaboration may result in significant cost savings and enhanced quality of services to residents.  One community partner stated that “Burlington and West Burlington are essentially one community except for a boundary that separates the two.”  

The partners are interested in learning more about how comparable communities (micropolitan, not metropolitans) in similar situations addressed this issue- what worked, what didn’t work, potential cost savings, service benefits, etc.

The assessment of potentially merged services between Burlington and West Burlington might include: law enforcement, fire; public works, city administration, maintenance, engineering, vehicle maintenance, and more. The partners are also interested in understanding whether this approach might also extend to some County-wide services and consolidation of resources.