North Carolina uses data envelopment analysis (DEA) to produce a pupil transportation funding process that encourages operational efficiency and reduces expenditures. To do so, we extended the DEA methodology to nonhomogeneous units by integrating DEA with a regression model that adjusts the DEA output to account for variations in site characteristics and to ensure that the final funding allocations were fair. The new process has led to changes in bus routes and schedules, adjustments in school start and stop times, and reductions in the inventory of buses. Between 1990 and 1993, the state saved $25.2 million in capital costs and $27.9 million in operating costs, and it expects savings to increase.
PrefaceThis report discusses a relatively narrow topic within the broad framework of metropolitanarea governance: the potential effects of local-government consolidation on a region's economic development. Specifically, the report examines the potential economic-development effects of consolidating Allegheny County and the City of Pittsburgh. Advocates of a metropolitan approach to planning and governance have championed consolidation of local governments for many years. Too many government units spread over too small a geographic area have been seen to be the cause of a long litany of ills, including, for example, urban sprawl, barriers to job growth and business development, and more-expensive-than-necessary government. This report seeks to contribute to understanding the effect of consolidation on future economic development, which is especially critical as Pittsburgh and Allegheny County consider again how their two governments might act to better meet the needs of the region. The Citizens Advisory Committee on the Efficiency and Effectiveness of City-County Government sponsored the research reported here.Related RAND research is presented in the following documents: The Rand Environment, Energy, and Economic Development ProgramThis research was conducted under the auspices of the Environment, Energy, and Economic Development Program (EEED) within RAND Infrastructure, Safety, and Environment (ISE). The mission of ISE is to improve the development, operation, use, and protection of society's essential physical assets and natural resources and to enhance the related social assets of safety and security of individuals in transit and in their workplaces and communities. The EEED research portfolio addresses environmental quality and regulation, energy resources and systems, water resources and systems, climate, natural hazards and disasters, and economic development-both domestically and internationally. EEED research is conducted for government, foundations, and the private sector.iv Government Consolidation and Economic Development in Allegheny County and the City of PittsburghQuestions or comments about this report should be sent to the project leader, Rae Archibald (Rae_Archibald@rand.org). Information about EEED is available online (http://www. rand.org/ise/environ). Inquiries about EEED projects should be sent to the following address:
EDUCATIONThe RAND Corporation is a nonprofit research organization providing objective analysis and effective solutions that address the challenges facing the public and private sectors around the world. RAND's publications do not necessarily reflect the opinions of its research clients and sponsors. R ® is a registered trademark. PrefaceAs a publicly supported entity, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh (CLP) is reliant, principally, on local sales tax dollars. As such, CLP is competing against an increasing number of regional assets for a fixed pool of local sales tax dollars. In this environment, CLP asked RAND to identify critical factors affecting the library's ability to obtain stable and adequate funding to meet its mission in the future. We developed a framework to understand how the factors connect to resources, which resulted in nine options, expressed as opportunities, for CLP to consider. With this information, the library, in concert with regional elected officials and funders, plans to create a process to evaluate opportunities to improve CLP's ability to secure the resources required to meet its mission in the future.This report should be of interest to those in Pittsburgh concerned about the future of CLP or that of any public library. It may also be of relevance to policymakers for libraries at the local level across the country.This research was conducted within RAND Education, a unit of the RAND Corporation. The mission of RAND Education is to bring accurate data and objective analysis to education policy. For three decades, RAND Education has helped identify and analyze the complex problems facing the nation's education system and has conducted complex, large-scale projects.
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