Institutional Collective Action and Special Purpose Governments: Special District Formation and Regional Governance Jayce Lavalle Farmer
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Florida State University Libraries Electronic Theses, Treatises and Dissertations The Graduate School 2008 Institutional Collective Action and Special Purpose Governments: Special District Formation and Regional Governance Jayce Lavalle Farmer Follow this and additional works at the FSU Digital Library. For more information, please contact [email protected] FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF SOCIAL SCIENCES INSTITUTIONAL COLLECTIVE ACTION AND SPECIAL PURPOSE GOVERNMENTS: SPECIAL DISTRICT FORMATION AND REGIONAL GOVERNANCE By JAYCE LAVALLE FARMER A Dissertation submitted to the Askew School of Public Administration and Policy in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Degree Awarded: Spring Semester, 2008 Copyright © 2008 Jayce L. Farmer All Rights Reserved The members of the Committee approve the dissertation of Jayce L. Farmer defended on February 5, 2008. ____________________________________ Richard C. Feiock Professor Directing Dissertation ____________________________________ Patrice Iatarola Outside Committee Member ____________________________________ Lance deHaven-Smith Committee Member ____________________________________ Gabriella S. Wolfson Committee Member Approved: _____________________________________________________________ Frances S. Berry, Chair, Askew School of Public Administration and Policy The Office of Graduate Studies has verified and approved the above named committee members. ii To my late great grandmother whom laid the foundation with her prayers and tenderness iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to give thanks to my loving mother and grandmother for their unlimited support, advice and prayers. They continue to keep me grounded, and focused on the important things in life. I also would like to acknowledge my loving brother of whom I am very proud and who also contributed support throughout the pursuit of this endeavor. I am also thankful, and indebted to Dr. Richard Feiock, whom I have had the pleasure to have as a major professor, mentor and friend. With his patience, advice and understanding, he has taught me valuable lessons that shall be carried forth throughout my career. I would also like to give a special acknowledgment to my dissertation committee members, Dr. Lance deHaven- Smith, Dr. Patrice Iatarola, and Dr. Gabriella Wolfson. Their advice and guidance made this dissertation possible. A special acknowledgement is also owed to Dr. Jered Carr for his thoughtful advice and comments in the development of this dissertation. I am also grateful to Dr. Fran Berry who helped mold my academic character with some valuable advice that she gave me many years ago. I must also give thanks to Ms. Velda Williams for being helpful and kind throughout my years as a student in the Askew School. My gratitude is also owed to my friends, and colleagues who provided support structures throughout my doctoral studies. The importance of priceless friendships goes without saying. Finally, I would like to give a special thanks to my wife, Kiersten. Her patience, understanding and unlimited love served as my rock during this undertaking. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES...................................................................................................................... vii LIST OF FIGURES................................................................................................................... viii ABSTRACT.................................................................................................................................. ix CHAPTER 1 AN INTRODUCTION TO SPECIAL DISTRICT FORMATION AS REGIONAL COLLECTIVE ACTIONS.................................................................................... 1 SIGNIFICANCE AND OBJECTIVE OF THIS RESEARCH: THE RESEARCH QUESTION .......................................................2 REGIONAL GOVERNANCE AND THE PROBLEMS OF COLLECTIVE ACTION: A NEED FOR AN ALTERNATIVE ................4 DISSERTATION OVERVIEW.......................................................................................................................................14 CHAPTER 2 WHY STUDY REGIONAL SPECIAL DISTRICTS?.................................... 17 SPECIAL DISTRICT TYPES ........................................................................................................................................17 THE BROAD FUNCTIONS AND USAGE OF SPECIAL DISTRICTS ..................................................................................20 CHAPTER SUMMARY................................................................................................................................................29 CHAPTER 3 THE COLLECTIVE ACTION FRAMEWORK OF THE FORMATION OF MULTI-JURISDICTIONAL DISTRICTS .............................................................................. 32 INSTITUTIONAL COLLECTIVE ACTION......................................................................................................................32 LOCAL GOVERNMENT FORMATION .........................................................................................................................34 SPECIAL DISTRICT FORMATION AND MOTIVATING FACTORS ..................................................................................35 THE MOTIVATIONS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS TO FORM MULTI-JURISDICTION SPECIAL DISTRICTS.......39 THE CHARACTER OF INSTITUTIONAL COLLECTIVE ACTION.....................................................................................56 COMBINING THE TWO PERSPECTIVES ......................................................................................................................64 CHAPTER SUMMARY................................................................................................................................................66 CHAPTER 4 AN EXAMINATION OF THE THREE DISTRICT TYPES: THE DIFFERENCES IN THE THREE SERVICE FUNCTIONS ................................................. 68 ANALYSIS ................................................................................................................................................................68 A COMPARISON OF THE THREE SERVICE FUNCTIONS ..............................................................................................70 SPECIAL DISTRICT USAGE AND THE CONDITIONS OF INSTITUTIONAL COLLECTIVE ACTION....................................75 THE EXISTENCE OF COLLECTIVE REGIONAL NEEDS ................................................................................................77 THE ROLES OF SPATIAL PARAMETERS AND GROUP SIZE .........................................................................................80 THE IMPLICATIONS OF COMMON POLICY OBJECTIVES AND COMMUNITY HOMOGENEITY.......................................82 CHAPTER SUMMARY AND LESSONS ON SPECIAL DISTRICT FORMATION..................................................................83 IMPLICATIONS TO BE CARRIED FORWARD ...............................................................................................................85 CHAPTER 5 DESIGN OF RESEARCH: DATA, METHODS AND HYPOTHESES....... 87 EXPLANATORY MEASURES......................................................................................................................................87 EXPLANATORY MODELS........................................................................................................................................103 CHAPTER SUMMARY..............................................................................................................................................111 v CHAPTER 6 EMPIRICAL ANALYSES AND FINDINGS: LOCAL GOVERNMENT USAGE OF REGIONAL DISTRICTS................................................................................... 113 FINDINGS AND ANALYSIS ......................................................................................................................................114 CHAPTER SUMMARY..............................................................................................................................................135 CHAPTER 6 NOTES.................................................................................................................................................137 CHAPTER 7 CONCLUSIONS: IMPLICATIONS AND DISCUSSION OF RESEARCH ..................................................................................................................................................... 138 DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS AND IMPLICATIONS .......................................................................................................138 OTHER CONSIDERATIONS ......................................................................................................................................146 CHAPTER SUMMARY..............................................................................................................................................149 APPENDICES........................................................................................................................... 151 APPENDIX A.......................................................................................................................................................151 APPENDIX B .......................................................................................................................................................152 APPENDIX C .......................................................................................................................................................156