Representatives Show Support for Sharing Local Government Services

Secretary of State Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez, State Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assemblywoman Sandra Galef were in Sleepy Hollow today, promoting state grant programs that advocate government consolidation.

The occasion marked last month's announcement of more than $27 million in grants for waterfront revitalization and the pursuit of local government efficiencies.

"This is all about reducing costs so that we can reduce costs for the tax payers," Cortés-Vázquez said.

The Secretary of State also took the opportunity to release the 2008-2009 Department of State report on the effectiveness of local government efficiency programs.

According to the report, 19 completed shared-service projects, backed by state grants, have created annual savings between $1 - $106 for affected taxpayers.

Local government shared-service grants aim at reducing redundancies and inefficiencies in municipal services. The grants are divided into two sections: one to study the benefits of sharing certain services across municipal jurisdictions; the other to implement consolidation.

Sleepy Hollow, Tarrytown and the school district are already conducting a Tri-Agency Shared Services Recreation Study with the aid of a $123,000 grant from the Department of State.

In total, 15 efficiency grants totaling $3.6 million were awarded last month.

Sleepy Hollow, Tarrytown and Briarcliff Manor were the recipients of a $26,000 grant to conduct a feasibility study to determine if the municipalities can consolidate water services.

"It's long overdue," said Sleepy Hollow Trustee Karin Wompa. "Individual villages should not have sole responsibility over their water, it should be something that is done on a higher level."

The three municipalities will have to pay for the remaining $12,000 the feasibility study is expected to cost.

Tarrytown was also the recipient of four waterfront revitalization grants totaling almost $200,000.

The money will go to fund an update of the village's Waterfront Revitalization Program, a Tarrytown Lakes/Andre Brook trail extension, the Scenic Hudson RiverWalk Park parking lot, and pedestrian tunnel access near the Tarrytown Metro-North station. All four projects are expected to cost over $1.5 million.

The grant announcements were made at a time when state funding for such projects is continually under scrutiny.

Last year, the Department of State was to release $29.4 million in government efficiency grants. That amount was reduced to a little over $12 million.

"There is always a concern in the future about funding," Cortés-Vázquez said. "The success of these grants will help determine if it is a worthwhile investment for the state."

She reiterated that there was "an incredible amount of return" from consolidating municipal services.

A 2009 report from the State Comptroller found that shared services could save local governments and taxpayers over $765 million annually – $40 million alone in Westchester.

The Local Government Efficiency Program began in 2005. Since then, the Department of State has awarded close to 300 grants totaling some $45 million. The department estimates these grants will help to save taxpayers $418 million annually.

"These grants have been able to save hundreds of millions for our taxpayers," Stewart-Cousins said.  "They give you the resources, encouragement and technical support to make the work of municipalities more cost effective and more efficient."