Modernizing Local Public Service Delivery Systems: LEAP into the future
Abstract
This article examines the role of the Local Efficiency Assessment Plan (LEAP)
tool designed to help public officials and the general public evaluate their county’s
governmental structures while taking into account likely population changes through
2025. It provides insights into probable changes in costs, property taxes, and other fiscal
issues as a result of population changes projected by the Illinois Department of Public
Health (IDPH) using the cohort survival method. The results show that more elderly
residents, fewer residents of working age, and fewer youth in some counties will force
serious decisions about the type and quality of services provided, as well as the most
appropriate and efficient way to deliver them.