Linking Regions, Linking Functions

Local governments work together in many ways. At the most basic level, they share information and collaborate on best practices for service delivery. At a more advanced level, municipalities may share the cost and delivery of services or the construction and administration of certain infrastructure projects. Collaboration may result in savings and service improvements, all of which ultimately benefit residents.

This paper describes the reasons for forming inter-municipal agreements, discusses the different forms these agreements take, and presents the findings of a 2012 survey of Ontario municipalities that examined the nature of shared services arrangements.