Encouraging Collaboration Across Government Boundaries

Case Studies and Partnership Projects

A series of in-depth case studies anchors the work of the Intergovernmental Studies Program.  IGSP uses the collective lessons of case study research to describe and explain the way people participate in effective intergovernmental initiatives.  These lessons can help governments assemble a more systematic understanding of effective intergovernmental practice

Waterford Police Department Dissolution
Officials in the town of Waterford, New York, attempted to dissolve its local police force and enter into a cooperative agreement with the county sheriff for police services.  IGSP studied the environment, circumstances, and players involved in this failed effort to alter the provision of public safety services in the town.
Waterford Case Study Report

Rhinebeck Collaborative
Intermunicipal cooperation between the town, village, and school district of Rhinebeck, New York, is the focus of this case study.  Two attempts, in 1991 and 2006, to formalize cooperative service agreements among the jurisdictions had different results.  IGSP’s case study delves into the circumstances surrounding each effort to better understand the reasons that one failed and the other is making progress.

Local Governance Dialogue Project
The Local Governance Dialogue Project is an intergovernmental partnership project concerned with the sustainability of municipalities in New York State. The Dialogue Project addresses the marked decline in the fiscal conditions and economic outlook of communities across the state. Stakeholders have an imperfect sense of the system forces in play and little agreement about which components of local government are of strategic importance. There is an absence of public discourse on the future of communities. The main purpose of the Dialogue Project is to engender discussion with public officials and citizens about conditions that foster healthy local governments. We want to learn what our system of local governance provides, how it works, how it fits into the broader state system, and what local governments need to be healthy. This Project is sponsored in part by the Office of the New York State Comptroller, Division of Local Government Services and Economic Development. Local Governance Dialogue Report 1 Local Governance Dialogue Report 2

Rochester Revitalization
The city of Rochester, New York, increased citizen confidence and participation in local government through a series of bottom-up, grassroots community planning initiatives.  The comprehensive community planning effort engaged citizens, businesses, and community organizations in the governance of their city.  This IGSP case study contains lessons about how government can engage citizens to help plan and implement urban revitalization efforts.
Rochester Case Study White Paper

West Nile Virus Outbreak
The first outbreak of West Nile Virus in North America—in New York City, in August 1999—brought together an intergovernmental group focused on responding to all the aspects of the crisis.  This group of state, local, and federal professionals worked collaboratively to identify the disease, develop methods to contain its spread, coordinate resource allocation, and develop public information strategies.  IGSP’s examination of the West Nile Virus outbreak and response reveals lessons about intergovernmental effectiveness under crisis situations.
West Nile Virus Case Article

Probation Automation
A group of state and county probation officials in New York State collaborated to develop an automated information system that would incorporate core business processes.  This IGSP case illustrates how effective network management and strategies supported a good idea that initially seemed unlikely to succeed.
Probation Automation Case Study Report