Local government facilitates the effective provision of services. Services that are provided for by local government include policing, education, judicial services, housing and welfare. Residents of each county and municipality are able to access these services more easily through their public service providers. In contrast, if the federal government had the sole responsibility of providing services across the country, service provision would likely be inefficient.
Methods of local government such as holding town meetings enhance participative democracy. Town meetings allow voters to get together and discuss policy issues with their elected representatives. Citizens of counties and municipalities set policy on issues affecting their community such as security, employment and business. Additionally, voters have the opportunity to elect authorities such as mayors and council managers who are accountable to the citizens.
Apart from promoting local democracy, local government allows elected authorities to make decisions with regard to the needs of the citizens. Local governments oversee the administration of their counties and municipalities. They make decisions on issues such as budgets and allocation of resources. Local governments also regulate and implement the local laws on matters such as illegal dumping.
Methods of local government enable decentralization to take place. According to Cornell University, decentralization involves delegating responsibilities of the federal government to local government. At the core of decentralization is efficiency and accountability, especially concerning how tax money is spent (fiscal discipline). Local government methods, therefore, bring government closer to the people, and thus allow greater scrutiny and a demand for accountability.