Dezvoltare locala si management descentralizat - bune practici privind controlul municipalitatilor de talie medie in Quebec (Canada)
Local Development and Decentralized Management Best Practices on Control from Medium Size Municipalities in Québec (Canada)

Summary/Abstract: In the last 15 years, municipalities in Québec became more autonomous. Their operations depend almost completely on local taxation and their citizens compare taxations levels with other cities. They operate within the legal framework imposed by the provincial government. This one includes, among others, measures on security, the buying process or the debt management. We met municipalities between 25 and 80000 citizens in order to compare their approach to cost control. How did they manage their debt, their buying process and their infrastructures? We found many different practices, related to control level, services quality or municipal policies. The control issue constitutes a particular question. On the one hand, mayors and councillors want to lower taxes or no let them grow because of the people pressure so important for their re-election. On the other hand, the provincial government imposes new security or service quality control norms that make these expenses grow. That explains why most municipalities try to control their costs a strong way and try many different techniques and procedures to win that. Some show centralized information systems, others not. The best ones invest in information, but had to develop procedures to maintain the data up to date. Some create groups to reduce buying costs, some exchange on their improvements, some develop systems for creating a particular economy-culture, where people do not spend even when it would be desirable for the long term. The study considers technical control procedures but also cultural development issues, where employees have a strong implication and where their knowledge and abilities are used. Some of these innovations present advantages and dangers and we try to present some of them.

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