In United States local government, a consolidated city-county (see below for alternative terms) is formed when one or more cities and their surrounding county (parish in Louisiana, borough in Alaska) merge into one unified jurisdiction.
[1] Furthermore, a consolidated city-county may still contain independent municipalities maintaining some governmental powers that did not merge with the rest of the county.
[3] Not considering Hawaii, which has no independent municipalities, the Midwest and Upper South have the highest concentration of large consolidated city-county governments in the United States, including Indianapolis, Indiana; Nashville, Tennessee; Louisville, Kentucky; Kansas City, Kansas; and Lexington, Kentucky.
In Louisiana, which is divided into parishes, the equivalent jurisdiction is known as either a city-parish or a consolidated government, depending on the locality.
Among the benefits of having a unified jurisdiction include potential cost savings, more efficiency, increased legal powers and revenue sources, and a more streamlined planning system.
[1] According to information compiled by former Albuquerque mayor David Rusk, 105 referendums were held in the United States between 1902 and 2010 to consider proposals to consolidate cities and counties.
Individual sections of a metropolitan or regional municipality may retain some autonomous jurisdiction apart from the citywide government.
The Georgia Regional Transportation Authority (GRTA) is a true government agency of the state of Georgia, and does control some state transportation funding to the cities and counties, but otherwise has very little authority beyond this small power of the purse.
In 1822, when the police jury began to be elected popularly, the New Orleans City Council was granted a veto over fiscal matters.
By 1846, the original police jury had become inactive and was abolished, consolidating the left bank with New Orleans.
In Scotland, Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow are functionally "independent cities", though the term is not used.
In Russia, there are urban districts - territories consisting of a city and nearby settlements united by one mayor's office.
As a rule, urban districts are the capitals of the constituent entities of the Russia and other major cities in the region.
The present form of Tokyo functions similarly to a prefecture, having a central government along with several autonomous subdivisions.
[22] In nine consolidated city-county governments in the United States, the formerly independent incorporated places maintain some governmental powers.
[3] In Georgia, consolidations often required multiple attempts, changes in procedures, and different local laws in the state legislature.