NEW YORK – As part of a $70 million effort to encourage local government efficiency and taxpayer savings, Governor Andrew Cuomo has announced the Municipal Consolidation and Efficiency Competition for local governments to form consortiums and compete for a $20 million award.

The program solicits teams of two or more local governments to submit plans demonstrating how government consolidations and innovative restructuring initiative will serve to reduce property taxes.

Governor Cuomo said, “Property taxes remain the most burdensome tax in New York and with this competition, we are incentivizing local governments to band together to think outside the box, streamline their bureaucracies, cut costs, and deliver real relief to their taxpayers.”

Submitted proposals will be judged by a panel selected by Secretary of State Rossana Rosado based on their creativity and innovation in finding new ways to stimulate local economy and streamline municipal services and operations. The winning local governments will then receive the $20 million award to support local actions to revolutionize and build a new model of local government services at the regional level for the 21st century.

Per a release from Governor Cuomo's office, the competition will be made up of two phases: the first consisting of interested local governments submitting an intent to propose form for a chance to become eligible for plan development funding, the second providing the local governments the opportunity to submit their plan for consideration by June 2017. A winner will then be announced in August 2017.