The final report said the fragmentation has fostered an “us vs. them” mentality in the region where some communities enjoy free leaf pickup while just miles away municipalities can’t afford to properly equip their police officers, and where cities give rich tax incentives to build new stores while old ones rot in the city next door.

The group’s research has been well received by some who favor consolidation of the region’s governments and criticized by others who believe it is part of an effort to eliminate governments in poor communities in north St. Louis County.

The group’s vice chairman, former Crestwood Mayor James Brasfield, said the group was “wary of any overreaching grabs to consolidate power in the hands of a few.”

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