CORRECTED HED: N.Y. Dept. of State's Local Gov. Efficiency grants awarded in SFY09 to save *$67M* over 10 yrs.

ALBANY, NY (11/11/2010)(readMedia)-- New York Acting Secretary of State Ruth Noemí Colón today released the 2009-2010 annual report for the Department of State's Local Government Efficiency (LGE) Program, highlighting ways in which the Department has provided financial and technical assistance to local governments to reduce taxpayer costs through consolidation of services and improved fiscal efficiency.

In SFY09 (April 1, 2009 – March 31, 2010) the Department of State awarded 47 grants totaling $5 million to municipalities in every region of the state. Forty awards totaling $1.5 million were for planning grants, of which 31 awards were for studies involving municipal consolidations or dissolutions. The balance, or $3.5 million, was awarded for implementation grants, which are anticipated to save taxpayers $66.7 million over 10 years.

To view the report, visit http://www.dos.state.ny.us/lg/publications/LGEannualreportSFY09.pdf.

"Local governments are effectively leveraging this incentive program to complete projects that provide real taxpayer savings," Acting Secretary of State Colón said. "The Department of State is committed to build upon our long tradition as a partner with local government, and I am proud of our accomplishments and the work of New York's local government leaders. We will continue to assist municipalities explore options that produce cost saving and efficiencies, with the ultimate goal of reducing local property taxes while maintaining and improving services."

The Department of State has been administering New York's Local Government Efficiency Program since 2005, and each year the Department produces a report outlining identifying new strategies to strengthen the LGE Program in response to the changing needs of local governments. The report includes a summary of all LGE grant awards and an estimate of overall financial savings achieved by municipalities participating in the Department's shared services initiatives.

State Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins, chair of the Senate Local Government Committee, said: "This report highlights how local government officials are working with New York state to provide real relief for our homeowners and working families. The LGE Program, as administered by the Department of State, continues to provide the means to effectively streamline local government services and consolidate resources. The LGE Program is a vital tool to establish greater efficiency while achieving hundreds of millions in long-term savings for taxpayers. I am pleased to work with Acting Secretary Colón and the Department of State to help reduce the burden on our taxpayers by providing state funds for sustainable property tax relief."

Assemblyman Sam Hoyt, chair of the Assembly Local Governments Committee, said: "Local Government Efficiency grants provide communities with valuable resources during these difficult fiscal times. This report highlights that the LGE Program is working and is helping to reduce the property tax burden faced by many homeowners. It is imperative that we continue give local governments the resources to make the systemic changes necessary to ensure that government is more efficient – and ultimately more effective."

Since the inception of the LGE program, DOS has received 1,112 applications requesting almost $200 million for efficiency projects. There have been 295 awards made to local governments totaling some $46 million, which will lead to an estimated long-term savings of more than $418 million to taxpayers.

Also in SFY09 the Department of State awarded the first grants under the New York Government Reorganization and Citizen Empowerment Act. The law, which went into effect in March, empowers citizens to place questions of municipal consolidation or dissolution on a popular ballot by collecting petition signatures from voters.

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