Can consolidation save tax dollars?
That is a crucial question for officials at all levels of government, where the state is facing a $30 billion budget deficit for 2011-12 and taxpayers are nearing revolt amid fears of being priced out of their homes.
“In New York state, the cost of government is coming home to roost and it will be painful,” said Jonathan Drapkin, president and CEO of Pattern for Progress.
That is the driving force behind efforts to encourage consolidation of services among the state”™s multi-layered municipalities, an idea discussed Dec. 15 by the Northern Dutchess Alliance in a public forum at Norrie Point titled, “Shared Services Across Northern Dutchess Towns.
The notion found a ready audience. The alliance”™s stated goal is to “create a broad-based and inclusive institutional structure for regional cooperation and economic development” throughout northern Dutchess County, using a public process to build support for ideas.
The forum included a discussion on case studies of successful consolidations of services, particularly in Ulster County. A follow-up report on possible areas for consolidation is expected early next year.
Saugerties town Supervisor Greg Helsmoortel spoke about the consolidation of the town and village police forces ”“ a laborious but successful effort that won approval from both town and village voters and members of both departments, which saw no layoffs.
“One element is not to rush things,” said Lucy Hayden, president of the alliance. “That consolidation of jobs was done over such a long time no one actually lost their position. That was a useful bit of insight.”
“I think what we are trying to convey is the effort to restructure government service delivery is going to happen whether with government leading the way or having it fostered upon it,” said Drapkin. “It will either be done after intelligent planning or because local taxpayers will not continue to pay increased costs for government when that cost is rising without increased services.”
He said that once a successful consolidation is completed, other employees and officials become less reluctant to try it in other departments. “Once a major objection to the whole process was a loss of jobs,” said Drapkin, referring to the police merger in Saugerties. “Once that did not in fact happen, people have opened their minds to the whole process.”
While efforts in Ulster County continue, Pattern is teaming with the Northern Dutchess Alliance to seek opportunities for consolidations there and are interviewing town supervisors and mayors for input. Their report “will point the way in Dutchess,” said Hayden.
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