The evolution of government consolidation in Indianapolis-Marion County : an honors thesis [(HONRS 499)]

Since the inception of the Unigov government in 1970, the Consolidated City of Indianapolis-Marion County has been a model of government consolidation in the Midwest. What began as a way of revitalizing downtown Indianapolis and drawing people back to the city has evolved into a county-wide project with the potential to save current Hoosiers millions of dollars in tax money if the correct programs are adopted and implemented. In this thesis, I take an in-depth look at government consolidation as a theory and the practical ways that it has been applied to Indianapolis-Marion County. Once a solid foundation of the principles is established, the thesis moves specifically to Indiana to further study the various consolidation efforts of the last 40 years. Moving from Unigov to Indianapolis Works and finally through the most current legislative session of the General Assembly, this thesis offers a comprehensive study of government consolidation and how it has evolved in Indianapolis-Marion County and will continue to change in the future.