L’articolo descrive le recenti riforme che hanno caratterizzato gli assetti istituzionali e i modelli ge-stionali dei Comuni ticinesi negli ultimi anni, offrendo anche una lettura circa le possibili evoluzioni future. Un approfondimento è dedicato alla gestione del personale, con riferimento particolare al caso di un Comune di media grandezza. Il contesto ticinese si caratterizza per una forte persistenza di logiche burocratiche, pur in una situazione di forte autonomia politica e gestionale comunale. L’articolo individua alcune possibili spiegazioni di ciò, quali le dimensioni medie assai limitate dei Comuni, la diffusione di istituti di democrazia diretta, le recenti modifi che nei rapporti tra i tre principali livelli di governo, e cioè Confederazione, Cantoni e Comuni.
The paper describes the recent reforms affecting the institutional and managerial framework for the Municipalities of Canton Ticino (Switzerland), and offers insights about their future. A focus is provided on human resources management, also referring to a middle-size Municipality. The Ticino context is characterized by a strong persistence of bureaucratic logics, regardless of the relevant autonomy enjoyed by Municipalities in political and managerial matters. The paper discusses some possible explanations, highlighting the small average dimensions of Municipalities, the diffusion of many tools of direct democracy, and the on-going changes in the relations between the three main government levels, i.e. Confederation, Cantons, and Municipalities.
The paper describes the recent reforms affecting the institutional and managerial framework for the Municipalities of Canton Ticino (Switzerland), and offers insights about their future. A focus is provided on human resources management, also referring to a middle-size Municipality. The Ticino context is characterized by a strong persistence of bureaucratic logics, regardless of the relevant autonomy enjoyed by Municipalities in political and managerial matters. The paper discusses some possible explanations, highlighting the small average dimensions of Municipalities, the diffusion of many tools of direct democracy, and the on-going changes in the relations between the three main government levels, i.e. Confederation, Cantons, and Municipalities.
