Every four to five years, the League asks its members to fill out a survey on the services and programs they provide. We call this the Municipal Services Survey. The data collected is used extensively by our research and legislative staff in responding to member inquiries, writing testimony on legislative issues, providing data to members of the Administration and General Assembly, and replying to press calls.
I want to thank the staff and elected members of each municipality that took the time to complete this survey. MML staff has begun to analyze the data. Here's a quick look at what we've found:
· 85% of municipalities provide either commercial or residential code enforcement;
· 53% are their resident's community water provider;
· 81% have at least one cable franchise agreement;
· 23% have their own television station;
· 55% provide police protection;
· 64% provide fire protection (either paid or volunteer);
· 35% have economic development staff;
· 15% have Arts and Entertainment District Staff;
· 85% provide snow removal; and
· 92% provide trash collection.
Other services or programs provided by more than 60% of cities and towns include planning and zoning, public works, curbside and leaf/lawn recycling, providing streetlights, and road maintenance. Additionally, 88% of municipalities report having their own website, and two-thirds of respondents distributed some form of newsletter.
On the other end of the spectrum, fewer than 10% of municipalities have a municipal bus system, golf course, senior center, social services programs, or water affordability program.
If there is any aspect of the survey you would like more information on, please contact Justin Fiore at justinf@mdmunicipal.org or (410) 295-9100.