Local Government Reform
John Clarkson
Office of Budget and Policy Analysis
Office of the State Comptroller
Presentation to League of Women Voters
53rd Biennial Convention – May 15, 2009
Thomas P.
P DiNapoli
State Comptroller
Commission Reports,
L i l i & Local
Legislation
L
l Activities
A i ii
„ Many Local Governments, Outdated
Municipal Structures
„ Lundine Commission (LGEC)
(
)
„ Suozzi Commission (CPTR)
„ Legislation & Proposals
„ Local Activities & Opportunities
„ Office of the State Comptroller Resources
Population Changes
1950 - 2005
Outdated Municipal Structures:
Hypothetical New Groupings
(2006 OSC Study)
NYS Local Government
Complex
General Purpose Local Governments 1,607
Counties 57
Cities 62
Towns 932
Villages 556
Special Purpose Local Governments 1,811
School Districts 685
Fi Districts
Fire
Di t i t 867
Library Districts 181
Commissioner-run Special Districts 78
Other Governmental Entities 1,302
Special Purpose Units 311
Local Public Authorities 993
TOTAL Local Government Entities
4,720
Syracuse Post Standard, May 2008
What’s
What
s not in the Cartoon?
„ Shared Services
„ Functional Consolidation
„ Outdated Rules
„ Transparency, Accountability, Sunshine
„ Mandate Reform
Bottom Line:
M
Many
Paths
P th TTo R
Reform
f
Local Leadership & Citizen Involvement Key
Commission on Local Government
Effi i
Efficiency
and
d Competitiveness
C
titi
15 Members, reported April 2008
„
Former Lt. Governor Stan Lundine, Chair
Commission created to address impacts
p
of New York’s outdated local
government system:
„ Most municipalities established during horse-and-buggy era
„ Over the years we have added to this outdated system, but
rarely simplified
„ Outdated laws, procedures and offices
„ Need to remove barriers to efficient and effective services
Website:
nyslocalgov.org
(report & much more)
LGEC Commission’s
Commission s Approach
 Did not shy away from looking at governmental
consolidation
 But overall focused more on services, mandate
relief, regional approaches and modernization
 Enable or encourage sharing & consolidation rather
than mandating it
 Goals: Efficiency AND/OR Effectiveness
isn t always better & one size doesn’t
doesn t fit all
 Bigger isn’t
RECOMMENDATIONS
›
›
›
›
›
›
›
Regional Services
Modern Municipalities
School District Restructuring
Informed & Active Voters
Aid & Incentives
Mandate Relief & Cost Drivers
Supporting Local Efficiency
Commission on Property Tax Relief
„ Property
p y Tax Cap
p
„ “Circuit Breaker” (Better than STAR)
„ Changing State Law and Mandate Relief
„
„
„
„
„
Endorsed LGEC Recommendations +
School District Consolidation (mandatory merger
consideration <1000 enrollment)
Cost Evaluation of New Mandates (E.O.)
Collective Bargaining (Triborough
(Triborough, steps)
Education Procedural Mandates
Multiple Paths to Reform
(Mutually Reinforcing)
„ State Level Reforms
„ Statutory
„ Programs & Assistance
„ Promotion of Best Practices
„ Local Action
„ Local Leaders (government, civic, business)
„ Local Initiatives: cooperation, sharing,
consolidation of services
services, functions & even
governments
„ Upsurge in Activity
Legislation
„ Some Success:
„ Local Government Efficiency Grants (redesigned)
„ Consolidation Incentives for Municipalities
„ Special District Transparency (Comptroller’s bill)
„ Executive Budget LGEC proposals (NOT enacted):
Consolidation/petition procedures
procedures, special district reforms
reforms,
health insurance cooperatives, multi-county operations, town
elective offices flexibility
„ Attorney General’s
General s Consolidation Proposal (procedural
changes, citizen petition and county-led changes)
„ Post-Budget Property Taxes/Mandate Relief Focus
Opportunities
„
„
„
„
„
„
„
„
Shared/Consolidated BackBack-Office Services, for example:
Purchasing, Civil Service, Code Enforcement, etc.
Health Insurance Cooperatives
School District Support
pp
Services
Shared/consolidated Assessing and Tax Receiving
Coordinated/Shared/Consolidated: Highway Services,
Emergency Dispatch,
Dispatch Policing,
Policing Fire Protection
Coordinated or Consolidated Regional Planning,
Economic Development
Justice Courts Consolidation/Reform
Capital C Consolidation: school districts, municipalities
and special districts -- where beneficial and achievable
Cooperation, Consolidation & Modernization
If nott now, when?
h ?
„
„
„
„
„
Financial crisis for state & local governments
g
Hard times drive change
Rewards can be substantial
Barriers can be overcome
Help is Available:
„ New Grants
„ Incentives for Municipal/School
C
Consolidation
lid i
„ Technical Assistance
OSC Resources
„ Comptroller
Comptroller’s
s Reform Advocacy
„ Local Government Financial Data:
Open Book New York
„ Audits and Research Studies
„ Local Official Training
„ Technical Assistance
osc.state.ny.us
What’s New?
p Institute
Local Government Leadership
„ Partnership with Hofstra and Cornell Universities
„
Institute at Hofstra University on June 11, 2009
„
Institute at Cornell University on August 13-14, 2009
„ Institute will provide local officials:
„
„
„
„
„
Fiscal and Management Expertise
Training
g on Key
y Leadership
p Principles
p
Training on Regional Issues
Networking Opportunities
Support,
pp , Information,, and Guidance
osc.state.ny.us/localgov/lgli