As I have been studying government I feel like I have a pretty good grasp on what the role of the federal government is. I am less sure about what the role of the local governments should be. We are considering a move next year and I'm looking now to see which city government is running things closest to the way they ought to. We live in Provo now and Orem, Provo, Springville, Spanish Fork, and Mapleton are on our list of possible destinations. Provo has been certainly less than friendly to personal liberty. Do any of you have any thoughts or suggestions about how to answer these questions? Any experience with any of these cities would be helpful.
Thanks!

I would use these standards, more or less, if not others in judging any government:

(1) libertarianism & non-interventionism: government exists to help us to protect our inherent rights to life and liberty and property; any government that does not do so is illegitimate. It should also not meddle in jurisdictions beyond its own except to defend its own citizens' rights from aggression. In order to minimize risk that governments will become tyrannical, these next three are helpful, as well...

(2) constitutionalism -- it's preferable for government to operate according to a carefully-written charter so that we may remain governed by law rather than by men.

(3) division of powers + checks and balances -- it's preferable for governmental power to be divided among different institutions/levels that may check and balance each other.

(3) federalism -- it's preferable to keep governmental power as decentralized (and, therefore, as close to the people) as possible.

Sadly, I agree with you about Provo. And I hope that you find freer lands elsewhere in Utah County.