A Free-Market Guide for Missouri Municipalities: Part One: Municipal Organization and Structure

Budget and Spending|Economy |
By David Stokes | Read Time 1 minute minutes

For Missouri’s cities, towns, and villages to thrive and meet the needs of their residents, local governments should embrace free-market principles to improve service delivery and responsiveness. Many municipalities across the state remain tied to outdated models of governance, where inefficient structures lead to higher costs and reduced effectiveness.

In David Stokes’ latest report, A Free-Market Guide for Missouri Municipalities, the first in a series, he outlines how adopting free-market policies can positively transform municipalities across the state. The report discusses specific ways to encourage competition, streamline bureaucracy, and empower residents to choose services that best meet their needs.

This first installment focuses on the structure and organization of municipal governments, with subsequent guides planned to address taxation, transportation, public safety, and more.

Click here to download the full report.

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About the Author

David Stokes is a St. Louis native and a graduate of Saint Louis University High School and Fairfield (Conn.) University. He spent six years as a political aide at the St. Louis County Council before joining the Show-Me Institute in 2007. Stokes was a policy analyst at the Show-Me Institute from 2007 to 2016. From 2016 through 2020 he was Executive Director of Great Rivers Habitat Alliance, where he led efforts to oppose harmful floodplain developments done with abusive tax subsidies. Stokes rejoined the Institute in early 2021 as the Director of Municipal Policy. He is a past president of the University City Library Board. He served on the St. Louis County 2010 Council Redistricting Commission and was the 2012 representative to the Electoral College from Missouri’s First Congressional District. He lives in University City with his wife and their three children.

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