One size won't fit all government

The number of government units in Missouri ranks the state high in the nation. There are 3,723 government entities around the Show Me State, the eighth-largest number of all states. And Missouri has one government unit for every 1,579 residents, the 12th highest in the nation.

These are some of the figures from a study by the Show Me Institute, a think tank that favors lower taxes and smaller government. In its report, the institute raises some of the arguments for and against having so many divisions of local, county and state government.

One proposal considered by the Show Me Institute would decrease the number of representatives in the Missouri House to 101 from 163, a move that would save an estimated $1 million a year in salaries and other expenses. But fewer House districts would mean large geographic areas in rural districts, putting elected officials farther from their constituents in some cases.

Another proposal would merge some of the state's 536 school districts. But school districts tend to be the heart of many communities. And parents of children in small districts tend to favor the personal attention students receive.

A one-size-fits-all form of governance won't work. But there may be instances around the state where combining operations would prove to be not only more economical, but also would provide better services. In those cases, taking a look at combining units of government would make sense.

What wouldn't make sense is state mandates that would apply the same cookie-cutter forms of government across the state without taking local needs and local taxes into consideration.