Joint Powers Authority

A joint powers authority (JPA) is an entity permitted under the laws of some U.S. states, whereby two or more public authorities, not necessarily located in the same state, may jointly exercise any power common to all of them. Joint powers authorities may be used where:an activity naturally transcends the boundaries of existing public authorities. An example is the Transbay Joint Powers Authority, set up to promote the construction of a new transit center in San Francisco, with several transportation boards and counties around the San Francisco Bay Area as members. by combining their commercial efforts, public authorities can achieve economies of scale or market power. An example is National IPA, a purchasing consortium of local government and education agencies, also known as cooperative purchasing.