Based on recommendations made by the state Commission on Local Government Efficiency and Competitiveness, Governor David A. Paterson announced a bill that would save local governments $50 million, his office reports.
Across the state, the commission recommended consolidating smaller school districts, centralizing more services at the county or regional level and requiring local government and school district employees to contribute anywhere from 10 to 25 percent, depending on the amount of coverage, at minimum toward the cost of their health insurance. In total, the report estimates there could be an annual savings of over $700 million.
Locally, the City of Norwich, Town of North Norwich and Town of Norwich could see efficiencies, savings and increased revenues – one scenario offers over $3 million in state aid in the next five years – if full or partial consolidations occurred, the report claims. The three could also feasibly create a combined water and sewer authority, or merge all three municipal highway departments into one.
“I’m all for consolidation and I think we should start with simple services to reduce taxes,” said James McNeil, City of Norwich Supervisor for Wards 1, 2 and 3. “If we can find something which benefits taxpayers and still keep our identities, it might just be one small step.”
McNeil recommends examining a county-wide cooperative fuel purchasing agreement.
“It’s something we all need,” he said. “And if we can work out something like that, maybe we’ll take another step.”
Town of Norwich Supervisor David C. Law didn’t offer a specific answer on the value of the findings in the local report, but said if the economy continues on a downturn, local governments across the county will be forced to tighten their belts.
“All of us have to be cutting costs and doing things better than we’ve done,” said Law. “We’ve seen that coming for years, and we have to protect taxpayers the best we can.”
Specifically, Law said if the state wants to help the area, it should assist in reigning in school district spending and help the New York Susquehanna & Western rail back on line, not spend money on studies.
Town of North Norwich Supervisor Richard Decker sees a county-wide highway department as a potential consolidation point in the future, based on the current county-town cooperative highway model.
“Somehow we’ll have to find a way to better service our county and town roads,” said Decker, who pointed out the county is plowing more and more town roads through agreements with several different municipalities. “It works well, and we’re always looking to expand that. Maybe this is a step in the right direction.”
Decker also hopes to continue talks of a regional water and sewer district, which could expand those services to parts of the county that want and need them.
Like greater Norwich, the greater Cortland and Oneonta areas were included in the consolidation report. According to the findings, both areas face similar challenges and were given similar recommendations to consolidate.
“There are still a great many political barriers to merging the city and the town,” said Town of Oneonta Supervisor Robert T. Wood in a prepared statement released through the governor’s office. “(But) I believe we have a rare opportunity to shape the future of our community together. If we can break down this wall of protectionism and look at what is best for the area.”