When is a Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) created?

A Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) is established specifically when two or more local governments come together to collaborate in delivering a service or managing a project. This cooperative framework allows these governments to pool resources, share costs, and coordinate efforts to achieve common goals which might be more challenging to accomplish independently due to constraints like funding, expertise, or capacity.

The agreements are particularly useful in areas such as public safety, transportation, and infrastructure, where collaboration can enhance service efficiency and effectiveness. By forming a JPA, local governments can operate under a unified strategic plan while maintaining their independent status and local governance.

In contrast, the other options describe scenarios that do not necessitate a JPA: a single government operating a service does so independently without the need for external collaboration; when a state government mandates local cooperation, it generally imposes requirements rather than encouraging voluntary joint operations; and a partnership between a private entity and a local government does not fall under the definition or purpose of a JPA, which is focused solely on the involvement of multiple government entities.