Timing is everything

 

New York state depends on Wall Street for one-fifth of its annual budget revenue.

With that in mind, state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli said recently, “It’s time to get into gear as we see volatility in the financial market spill over into government.”

One way of getting into gear is by merging public services, which in turn would cut property taxes. DiNapoli supported sharing services among municipalities and schools, something that has been recommended by the state Commission on Local Government Efficiency and Competitiveness.

There’s plenty of room for improvement as the state has about 9,000 taxing authorities and 6,000 governments. It goes without saying that there is overlap. But getting everyone to agree will be a major move unto itself as each fiefdom will not be tolerant of such a momentous change, giving up power, identity and perhaps some prestige.

One way of overcoming the obstacles is with a carrot or as DiNapoli suggested “tangible incentives.” Read that as money from the state.

Lawmakers were paying attention and included $4.4 million in the new state budget.

Staff writer John Golden reports in an article this week that the Local Government Efficiency Grant program has $29.4 million with which to promote consolidations and major service-sharing arrangements that save taxpayer dollars.

Towns and villages that merge, consolidate or dissolve can receive a 25 percent increase in current state aid or incentive funding equal to 15 percent of the combined property tax revenue of consolidating localities. The cap would be $1 million annually, or a $250,000 flat amount that would phase down over five years.

The commission already has a number of suggestions, from creating an online contract database and cooperative bidding/purchasing tool for Orange, Rockland and Albany counties, along with the town of Cortland and Capital Region BOCES to consolidating municipal and county court facilities in Dutchess County.

Anything that saves the small business owner and taxpayer money should be a no-brainer. Let’s hope there is little or no resistance from the schools and municipalities.

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