Handbook of Local Government Administration

This theoretically and experientially grounded reference/text provides a complete overview of the principles and applications of government administration and management practices in the local public sector, from the effects of environmental conditions on local administrators and management techniques to administration in different types of local government. The Handbook of Local Government Administration considers the cultural, legal, and organizational contexts of local government...discusses the array of administrative and management approaches -- organizational, fiscal, and personnel -- available to local officials...covers trends in the administration and management of generic types of local government, as in towns and townships, municipalities, counties, and regional agencies...assesses local governments' future governing capacity challenges...surveys current developments in standard and innovative management practices, including budgeting, personnel, strategic planning, total quality management, and performance measurement...emphasizes the critical role of local government as the conception and testing ground for state-of-the-art administrative innovations and management practices...compares practices in different jurisdictions, including special and school districts...highlights the usefulness of current high visibility management practices...and more. Written by over 25 distinguished academics and professionals with substantial experience as practitioners and consultants of administrative operations to local governments, the Handbook of Local Government Administration is an invaluable reference for city managers, department heads, government administrators, practitioners, and political scientists, and an indispensable text for graduate-level students taking courses such as Theory and Practice of Local Government Administration and Management in departments of public administration and political science. Book jacket.