Efforts for effectiveness in local administrations in Turkey under the scope of restructuring works

In the discussions of restructuring of the public administration localadministrations have come forward as the nearest administrations to thepublic in the provision of public services in an efficient, effective and qualifiedmanner and in accordance with the expectations of the public. In line with thegovernance focused trends as globalization, localization and autonomization,important novelties entered into force in the field of local administrationsthrough the arrangements of The Law on Metropolitan Municipalities No.5216, The Law on Municipalities No.5393 and The Law on Special ProvincialAdministrations No.5302 and other regulations involved.In this work it is scrutinized that during the period of after 2002especially in the years of 2004 and 2005 what sort of novelties the new legalarrangements concerned in the area of local administrations brought alongwith themselves in respect of the enhancement of the effectiveness of localservices and whether these novelties launched are sufficient in terms ofproviding effectiveness in local services. With this aim in the first sectionbasic concepts are explained, in the second section the restructuring worksare addressed with regard to organization structure, powers and duties,population, the area and extent of services and in the third and last sectionthe question of the effectiveness for local services is assessed in relation tospecial provincial administrations, metropolitan municipalities andmunicipalities.As a result of last arrangements; the organization structure, economicand social functions, service provision methods, participation mechanisms,financial structure, inspection and autonomy, responsibility and accountability217system of local administrations have changed. This work is aimed at definingand explaining how this change and transformation process has materializedin local administrations in particular in the context of effectiveness.Also in this work it is concluded that the new arrangements put intopractice targeting at ensuring effectiveness in local administration services(practically establishment criteria concerning population and distance,determination of performance indicators and poor performance sanctions)are not based on adequate scientific research and work and thesearrangements have yet to be implemented in a sufficient way and as theyshould be.Key Words:1) Local Administrations2) New Public Management3) Restructuring4) Effectiveness