Shared Services Grants

GOVERNOR ANNOUNCES $2.45 MILLION TO PROMOTE INTERMUNICIPAL COOPERATION AND SHARING OF SERVICES:

Governor George E. Pataki today announced 22 grants totaling more than $2.45 million have been awarded to improve the efficiency of municipal government services and encourage cooperation by local governments to reduce costs for providing services to residents and businesses.
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The SMSI Program was initiated at the Governor’s request in 2005, with strong legislative support. The goal of the program is to encourage municipal leaders to work together and explore new approaches to promote fiscal stability. In a 2005 report, “Sharing Services and Saving Tax Dollars,” the Senate Local Government Committee, chaired by Senator Little, surveyed the status of local government use of inter-municipal agreements and explored ways in which such cooperation can help to control property tax growth, and rising insurance and energy costs.

A total of 266 applications were received during the solicitation for the first round of SMSI grants. All applications were reviewed by the New York State Department of State’s (DOS) Division of Local Governments, which then selected the award recipients. Among the projects receiving funding are: the sharing of office facilities, studies of village dissolutions and municipal consolidations, cooperative water or sewer system construction and maintenance, and shared highway department services, including vehicle maintenance and fueling facilities.

The press release has a complete list and description of the grant recipients.