Councils of governments in Connecticut

Councils of governments in Connecticut
Clickable map of Connecticut planning regions
Location	Connecticut, United States
Number	9
Populations	96,692 (Northeastern CT) – 975,328 (Capitol Region)
Areas	140.46 square miles (363.8 km2) (Metropolitan) – 1,027.46 square miles (2,661.1 km2) (Capitol Region)
Government	Council of governments
Subdivisions	cities, towns, unincorporated communities, census designated place[a]

In Connecticut, councils of governments, also known as COGs, are regional planning organizations that bring together the chief elected officials or professional managers from member municipalities in Connecticut. Since 2015 and 2022, the Connecticut planning regions served by COGs have been recognized as county equivalents under state and federal law respectively, superseding the eight legacy counties in the state for most federal funding and statistical purposes.^[1]

The COGs are meant to aid coordination among neighboring cities and towns, and between the towns and the state government, on issues including land use, zoning, and transportation. They serve some functions analogous to county governments in other states, but have no independent taxing authority (Connecticut disbanded county governments in 1960). Councils of government also host some intermunicipal services based on the needs and voluntary participation of member or client municipalities. Councils, or COGs, receive funding through membership dues, state grants, and federal grants.

In 2019 the state recommended to the United States Census Bureau that the nine Councils of Governments replace eight legacy counties in Connecticut for statistical purposes.^[2] This proposal was approved by the Census Bureau in 2022, and will be fully implemented by 2024.^[3] In 2015, the State of Connecticut had previously recognized COGs as county equivalents under state law in anticipation of future census recognition, allowing them to apply for funding and grants made available to county governments in other states.

As of 2018^[update], Connecticut has 9 regional councils following a series of mergers and realignments between 2013 and 2015. Populations are from the 2010 census.^[4] For current membership, see List of municipalities in Connecticut. Some COGs also serve as either federal metropolitan planning organizations (MPO), rural planning organizations (RPO), or share staff with one or more MPOs/RPOs within their borders; the Western Connecticut COG, for example, supports both the Housatonic Valley MPO and the South Western CT MPO.

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