For many, regionalism is the answer to managing city challenges brought about by metropolitan sprawl. Yet regionalism is defined in many ways. Proponents tend to recommend regional tax sharing and/or increased coordination and sharing of services.

For the most part, such efforts have not progressed very far in Northeast Ohio. But the context for local autonomy has changed. Jurisdictions that were fiscally sound now find they are not immune from fiscal constraints.

The first Levin Regional Cooperation Survey, conducted in late 2018, examines regional collaboration efforts in city management and operations among the 57 municipalities in Cuyahoga County, Ohio.