Three trends are reshaping the nature of intergovernmental relations: public demand for services that make sense and operate at reasonable cost, the shift of authority away from the federal government to the states and localities, and movement away from mandated programs to voluntary ones.

• Public demands for sensible, cost-effective services. Increasingly, citizens and businesses expect one-stop, same-day, customized services instead of the fragmented, duplicative, and lengthy processes that have often characterized government operations.
• Devolution of authority. Our recent political history has seen a dramatic shift away from Washington toward state capitals in such critical public programs as Medicaid and Welfare Reform. This transfer of authority to states in many cases also means a shift of responsibility to localities.
• Mandates vs. voluntary local participation. As states take up the responsibility of newly “devolved” programs, they are mindful of local opposition to unfunded mandates. It is now common for local participation in state initiatives to be voluntary in whole or in part.