Beertown is at a crossroads. With the town’s flagship industry defunct for more than 20 years, and with both human and financial capital gravitating to the neighboring town of Praline, Beertonians have been taxed more and more to provide for fewer and fewer services. Many local governments across the country are facing similar predicaments, and some are taking radical steps.

Click the arrow and check out this handy how-to guide to “Consolidation, Dissolution, and Annexation” from New York State, and ask yourself: Would you trade independence for security?