North Country Awarded 3 Local Government Efficiency Grants Saving Millions in Taxpayer Money

ALBANY, NY (12/30/2009)(readMedia)-- New York Secretary of State Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez today announced the recipients of 15 Local Government Efficiency (LGE) awards totaling $3.6 million. These grants for shared services, cooperative agreements, mergers, consolidations and dissolutions will help local governments provide residents with higher quality services – from better drinking water and wastewater disposal to a more comprehensive plan for building roads and bridges – and will help New York State's municipalities reduce property taxes through the reduction in local expenses. To date, the program has funded 250 projects with a projected savings of more than $350 million dollars from a $41 million state investment.

Governor David A. Paterson said, "Through the sharing of services, consolidation and/or dissolution, local governments can reduce the cost of government to the taxpayer while increasing their efficiency. It is critical that the state play a leadership role in facilitating collaboration between New York's cities, towns, villages and special districts. These grants will help our communities to lower their taxes while developing sustainable, high-quality services that will benefit every New Yorker."

Secretary of State Cortés-Vázquez said, "At their most basic level, these grants signify neighbors helping neighbors: cities and towns across the state are taking advantage of these grants to collaborate with other cities and towns nearby to share the resources and expertise it takes to ensure cleaner water, safer roads and stronger law enforcement. As we move forward with this grant program, I am excited to see a number of projects progress from the planning to the implementation stage, while another cluster of local governments begins planning their own efficiency projects. During these difficult economic times, these grants are helping local governments control the rising cost of property taxes, as pooling resources means less of a tax burden for New York residents. "

Six of the 15 grants, totaling $3.4 million of the $3.6 million awarded today, are for Efficiency Implementation. One of these grants, for $400,000, was awarded to the Town of Saugerties to consolidate the town and village police department. The grant will fund professional services, new equipment and capital improvements to the current Town Police facility. This grant is anticipated to provide a future annual cost savings starting at more than $350,000 and increasing to more than $500,000 annually.

Several of the LGE awards promote a regional approach to the infrastructure needs of communities. The Cayuga Regional Water and Sewer Authority Implementation Project is a collaborative initiative among the City of Auburn and the Towns of Fleming, Sennett, Owasco, Aurelius and Throop, as well as the Cayuga County Water & Sewer Authority, in order to implement a new regional water and sewer agency structure. One of the primary goals of this project is to initiate capital improvements that will enhance the regional delivery of water and sewer services. This project, along with public water consolidation projects in Onondaga and Clinton Counties, highlights the program's ability to have municipalities think and work on a regional basis.

In addition, the Lewis and Jefferson County Joint Infrastructure Management Initiative (JIMI) will develop an asset management tool for local officials to better manage roads and highways, as well as water and wastewater resources, in 15 rural municipalities and Lewis and Jefferson Counties. This project takes a comprehensive approach to developing an asset management system that enables better capital planning, more accurate budgeting and a more proactive maintenance program.

The nine General Efficiency Planning grant awards totaling $225,000 will help municipalities plan prospective government efficiency initiatives to how they can save taxpayer money.

New York State Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Chair of the State Senate Local Government Committee, said: "The Local Government Efficiency awards are a crucial component of our efforts to improve government efficiency and ensure the quality of our public services. Not only will they help communities explore ways to make government more resourceful, but they will ultimately save the taxpayers' money. The commitment of Secretary of State Cortés-Vázquez to promote government efficiency has improved the quality of life for all New Yorkers."

New York Assemblyman Sam Hoyt said: "As Chair of the Assembly Committee on Local Governments, I am pleased that the Department of State is encouraging shared services, consolidation and other local efficiency efforts during a time when the state is experiencing unprecedented fiscal hardship. The state must continue to encourage cost-savings at every level of government, and I commend all grant awardees as examples to watch and follow in the effort to cut government spending for New York state taxpayers."

Efficiency Implementation Awards

1. $710,000 – City of Auburn, Cayuga Regional Water and Sewer Authority Implementation Project

2. $600,000 – Village of Elbridge, Village of Elbridge Consolidation of Drinking Water Services.

3. $709,136 – Town of Lake Pleasant, Hamilton County Fuel Management Consolidation

4. $638,059 – Lewis County, Lewis and Jefferson County Joint Infrastructure Management Initiative (JIMI)

5. $371,000 – Town of Plattsburgh, Town of Plattsburgh Water District Management Functional Consolidation

6. $400,000 – Town of Saugerties, Town and Village of Saugerties Police Consolidation Project

General Efficiency Planning Awards

1. $25,000 - Albany-Schoharie-Schenectady-Saratoga BOCES, Municipal Prescription Drug Purchasing Coalition

2. $25,000 - Town of Aurora, Aurora Public Works and Highway General Efficiency Planning Study

3. $22,500 – City of Canandaigua, Central Garage Efficiency Study

4. $25,000 - Village of Farnham, Farnham DPW and Brant Highway Department Efficiency/Consolidation Study

5. $26,000 – Village of Lyons, General Efficiency Planning Study of Functional Consolidations

6. $30,500 - Putnam-Northern Westchester BOCES

7. $26,000 – Village of Sleepy Hollow, Feasibility Study examining consolidation of water services of the Villages of Sleepy Hollow, Tarrytown and Briarcliff Manor

8. $22,500 – West Brighton Fire District, Town of Brighton Fire and Emergency Services Study

9. $22,500 – Town of York, A study of consolidating specific function of three municipalities

More information and a complete description of the grant awards can be found at the Department of State website at http://www.dos.state.ny.us.