Annexation

The Municipal Government Study Commission was assisted by staff members from the Institute of Government, particularly, on annexation issues, by George Esser.  Esser prepared two long staff papers for the Commission that were obviously influential in its decisions.  Near the end of 1958 the Commission prepared an initial report that focused mainly on its responsibilities other than annexation, and then in January 1959 issued a supplemental report that set out its more detailed thinking about annexation.  The 1959 annexation legislation, which remains the core of the current involuntary annexation statutes, is clearly based on the principles in the supplemental report.  (The Commission also sponsored separate legislation that led to the current voluntary annexation procedure for contiguous property.)

Esser’s review of city-related legislation for the 1959 session contains a more specific summary of the 1959 legislation as enacted; given his position as staff to the Study Commission, it also reflects the Commission’s understanding of the legislation.