CONSOLIDATION Petitioning for Progress

Consolidation Goal is to reduce the size of Local Government Goal is to reduce the size of Local Government Consolidation terms Consolidation terms “Sharing” Municipal Services or equipment “Sharing” Municipal Services or equipment “Merger” of two Towns into one “Merger” of two Towns into one “Dissolution” of Village “Dissolution” of Village

Sharing of Municipal Services Successful History Successful History County System County System Highway Superintendents Share Equipment Highway Superintendents Share Equipment Department of Social Services Department of Social Services Recent Proposals Recent Proposals Endicott Personnel & Labor Relations Agreement Endicott Personnel & Labor Relations Agreement Chenango/County storage refueling shed. Chenango/County storage refueling shed. Vestal Fire/County fire training facilities Vestal Fire/County fire training facilities City Tax Collections administered by County City Tax Collections administered by County

Merger or Dissolution No History No History Village Dissolution Village Dissolution Lots of talk Lots of talk No official action, no plans, no votes No official action, no plans, no votes Merger of two Towns Merger of two Towns Lots of talk Lots of talk No official action, no plans, no votes No official action, no plans, no votes

Process vs. Plan Process Process Encourage public participation in setting the agenda Encourage public participation in setting the agenda After successful petition process, local villages charged with developing formal plan of merger or dissolution After successful petition process, local villages charged with developing formal plan of merger or dissolution Plan includes financial details of merger or dissolution Plan includes financial details of merger or dissolution Conduct public hearings on plan Conduct public hearings on plan Hold vote on plan Hold vote on plan Support process now Support process now Decide whether to support plan later Decide whether to support plan later

County, Towns & Villages Broome County Sixteen Towns Seven Villages One City

Too Many Local Municipalities? Arlington County, VA—Pop. 200,000. Arlington County, VA—Pop. 200,000. No local cities, towns or villages No local cities, towns or villages Baltimore County, MD—Pop. 750,000. Baltimore County, MD—Pop. 750,000. No local cities, towns or villages No local cities, towns or villages Broome County, NY—Pop. 200,000. Broome County, NY—Pop. 200, local cities, towns and villages 24 local cities, towns and villages All voters are represented by at least 2 municipalities. All voters are represented by at least 2 municipalities. Some voters are represented by 3 municipalities. Some voters are represented by 3 municipalities.

Village Dissolution Started by Village Board, or Started by Village Board, or Started by petition of voters Started by petition of voters Four step process Four step process Committee formed to develop plan Committee formed to develop plan Plan of dissolution is created Plan of dissolution is created Public Hearing is held Public Hearing is held Village residents vote on plan Village residents vote on plan Permission of NYS, County or Town is not required. Permission of NYS, County or Town is not required.

Merger of Towns Started by resolutions of Town Boards Started by resolutions of Town Boards Four step process Four step process Both Towns appoint committee Both Towns appoint committee Plan of merger is developed Plan of merger is developed Public hearings are held Public hearings are held Residents of both Towns vote on plan Residents of both Towns vote on plan Permission of NYS or County is not required Permission of NYS or County is not required

It’s Time Thirty years of discussion. Thirty years of discussion. No action by any Town or Village Board No action by any Town or Village Board Formal plans must be developed Formal plans must be developed Give voters opportunity to decide Give voters opportunity to decide Law gives Village voters opportunity to start process Law gives Village voters opportunity to start process

Proposal to Village Voters Voters may petition to dissolve Voters may petition to dissolve One third of voters must sign petition One third of voters must sign petition Petitions are filed with Village Clerk Petitions are filed with Village Clerk Village Board MUST then prepare plan Village Board MUST then prepare plan Voters can decide whether to dissolve Voters can decide whether to dissolve

Petitions Petition forms are available Petition forms are available Copies provided today Copies provided today GoBoomeCounty.com GoBoomeCounty.com Copies provided to Village clerks Copies provided to Village clerks Success of process depends on grassroots approach Success of process depends on grassroots approach Talks with local grassroots organizations already taking place Talks with local grassroots organizations already taking place

Conclusion Consolidation has potential for savings Consolidation has potential for savings Process vs. Plan Process vs. Plan Support Process Now Support Process Now Decide on Plan When Presented Decide on Plan When Presented Let voters decide once and for all Let voters decide once and for all