News from New York State Department of State

For more information contact: Lauren Rivera, 518-474-4752

Secretary of State Lorraine Cortes-Vazquez Announces Workshops

Fifteen Regional Shared Service Workshops to promote local government efficiencies and tax payer savings

ALBANY, NY (08/28/2008; 1603)(readMedia)--

To promote local government efficiencies and taxpayer savings

"I am pleased to announce 15 regional workshops for municipal officials on the Department of State's Shared Services Program. The workshops will also discuss application process for the newly named Local Government Efficiency (LGE) grants," said Secretary of State Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez. "The Shared Service Program at the Department of State continues to provide communities with information and assistance on how to consolidate and share services between municipalities. During these fiscally distressed times, municipalities can create opportunities, and explore options that produce cost saving and efficiencies, with the ultimate goal of reducing local property taxes. After attending one of the workshops, local officials will have a better understanding of the available options, benefits and value of sharing services. In addition, they will review best practice models presented by their colleagues. Lastly, the will receive information on how to complete a strong, competitive Local Government Efficiency grant application."

These one-day workshops will include insights into existing shared and consolidated services as well as cooperative projects and best practices by a panel of municipalities that have been through the process. They will highlight the opportunities, successes, and challenges encountered throughout the process. The Department of State staff will also be available throughout the day to provide one-on-one sessions. Details of the 15 workshops are fully explained in the attached sheet.

In addition to the name change, the grant program includes other new features. For 2008-2009 the LGE program has expanded the eligible applicants to include: library districts, water authorities, sewer authorities, regional planning and development boards, along with counties, cities, towns, villages, special improvement districts, fire districts, school districts, and in certain instances, Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES). Other changes include a non-competitive grant category for high-priority projects, as well as the availability for transitional costs in certain circumstances. The grant categories are as follows:

. High Priority Planning Grants are non-competitive planning grants for city or county charter revisions that include functional consolidations or increased shared services; municipal mergers, consolidations or dissolutions; countywide shared services; or the transfer of local functions to the county and multi-county or regional services. Activities shall have a great potential for cost savings, structural change, and management improvements. The grant maximum is $50,000. For village dissolutions or charter revisions, a single applicant may apply.

General Efficiency Planning Grants are competitive planning grants to help identify and study opportunities to improve local government efficiency and cost savings, including health plan consolidations. The grant begins at $25,000 for the first two municipalities, with an additional $1,000 for each additional municipality. The grant maximum is $35,000.

Efficiency Implementation Grants

are competitive grants to assist applicants implement plans to improve local government efficiency and cost savings. The grant begins at $200,000 per municipality. The grant maximum is $1,000,000. Transitional personnel costs essential for implementation are allowed for a period of up to three years. If funding is for the implementation of a past SMSI study, the local cost share for that study shall offset local share of this grant only.

21^st Century Demonstration Projects

For more information about the Department of State's Shared Services Program, please contact the Department of State, Division of Local Government Services at (518) 473-3355 or 1-800-367-8488. You can also to the Department of State's website at www.dos.state.ny.us/lgss

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Attachments

Local Government Shared Services
list_only_letter.pdf