February 15, 2011
Pilot Study to Look at Consolidation among County, City, School District
Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente, Jr. and Rome Mayor James Brown announced today that Oneida County and the city of Rome have been asked to be co-applicants for a NYS Department of State Local Government Efficiency Grant that is being applied for by the City of Rome School District.
The grant would secure consulting services to conduct a study examining the feasibility of sharing services related to:
- Purchasing & Accounts Payable
- Maintenance & Grounds
- Parks & Recreation
- Technology Services
- Other Business functions such as insurance and payroll administration
The study will evaluate existing services, operational procedures, staffing and budget commitments, space/building requirements and available resources to assess potential service sharing opportunities. It will provide recommendations to maximize financial benefits or management improvements to the municipalities, and ultimately the taxpayers who financially support municipal and school operations.
"We are looking to make the most efficient possible use of our resources, and this study will help us explore what we can do further. Anything that can offer savings, while providing the same types of services should be looked at,” said Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente, Jr.
Mayor Brown said that, ““We are anxious and hopeful that we can achieve real savings for the taxpayers. These partnerships are crucial to the continued existence and delivery of services that our taxpayers expect and deserve”.
Jeff Simons, Superintendant of the Rome City School District said, “The Rome City School District, in an era of declining state support for public schools needs to examine every opportunity to save costs for local tax payers in ways that do not hurt students. Looking at the opportunities to share operational services with Oneida County and the City of Rome will accomplish just that.”
The Grant being applied for is for $50,000 with a local share of $5,555, meaning each applicant will be responsible for $1,852.
In order to be a co-applicant, Oneida County needs approval from the Oneida County Board of Legislature. It will be presented to the Board at the February 16th meeting.
Oneida County Partners
