the Legislature can more sharply pinpoint the obligation of the
state's chief executive to initiate action whenever necessary to main-
tain maximum effectiveness and economy within the administrative
structure.

Ill
STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

I want to consider next with you steps to improve the services and
role of the state's administrate arm in support of local and metro-
politan government in Maryland.

Our State and local governments are now close partners in providing
a broad range of important public programs affecting the welfare,
health, highways and a number of other critical matters in the life
of this State. The continued steady growth of Maryland's urban popu-
lation, especially across established political boundaries, and of new
public programs responsive to that growth makes it almost certain
that the relationship between the State and local levels will become
even closer and more complex in the future. As in the past, the
nature of that relationship will largely be determined by the Legis-
lature. But the State's administrative offices also have a rapidly widen-
ing range of activities and interests with the individual cities, counties,
and other local entities. That results in part from the participation
of State agencies in the designation or certification of a number of
local officers and employees, as well as gubernatorial appointment of
certain local officials. But it results far more from the fact that State
departments supervise the development and carrying out of many
local programs to which the State contributes and for which per-
formance standards, financial statements, management records and
other reports are required.

At present, the activities of the State in support of local govern-
ments are scattered throughout a very considerable number of state
offices. They are too often only loosely related even though directly
affecting the same communities and counties. There is clearly need
for better coordination, better orchestration of the State's diverse
efforts at the local level. We are learning more and more, for example,
about the intimate relationship among education, welfare, law en-
forcement and other public programs in the same neighborhoods and
areas. Similarly, we are learning far more about the value of more
closely meshing major public activities like highway planning and
the most efficient conservation and development of natural resources

62