Wanted: Ideas for Sharing Government Services to Save Money

Rockland residents are asked to bring their ideas for saving money by making local government services more efficient to a public hearing on Wednesday. It's the first of three planned hearings by the Rockland County-wide Shared Services Initiative Panel.

“We need to think creatively about ways to save money for taxpayers,” said County Executive Ed Day. “Everything is on the table. We want to hear ideas.”

WHAT: The Shared Services Initiative is a statewide requirement included in the state budget.

WHERE: the Fieldstone Middle School, Auditorium, 100 Fieldstone Drive, Thiells

WHEN: at 7 p.m. May 17

The initiative calls upon the County Executive to lead local officials in villages, towns, fire districts, etc. to come up with a plan to save property tax dollars by having municipalities and taxing districts share and centralize services.

"The possibilities for saving tax dollars, and streamlining government by combining our efforts and reducing duplication will benefit our residents and businesses and improve the quality of life in Rockland County,” Day said.

More than 50 government agencies were asked to take part in the panel, including town supervisors, mayors, school superintendents and officials from sewer districts, solid waste authority and ambulance districts, among others. The first meeting was held May 2.

“We got a very encouraging response from our first meeting,” the County Executive said. “Now it’s time to hear from the public.”

Two more public hearings will be held:

• 7:30 p.m., May 24, RCC, Technology Building, 145 College Road, Suffern.
• 7 p.m., June 8, Dominican College, Fury Lecture Hall, Ground Floor, 3 Campus Drive, Blauvelt.

Under state law, a shared services plan has to be presented to the County Legislature by August 1.

Image via Shutterstock