Project Manager:
Hon. Mark W. Thomas, former Chautauqua County Executive and Pomfret Town Supervisor.

Duration of project:
The project spans 10-months, from April 2006 through January 2007.

Why this project is needed now:
Local governments in New York State have an unprecedented opportunity to obtain grants from New York State for shared services projects, thanks to the current New York State budget. The budget contains $25 million in incentive aid available on a competitive grant basis to local governments that wish to move forward on intermunicipal services projects, but they must be able to demonstrate a need for financial assistance in covering their costs as well as sound planning. Mr. Thomas will assist local governments which desire to compete for the funding.

How the project will encourage shared services between municipalities:
Research is now underway and will continue throughout the summer to identify the "Best Practices" of shared services and initiatives in consolidating services, which have succeeded already between municipalities in Western New York. By showcasing these examples, describing how neighboring communities have saved money, made services more efficient, and improved the services to local residents, the advantages and possibilities of shared services will become better-known to leaders in government, business and academia. This knowledge will enable them to start planning additional shared services endeavors.

Best Practices Forums:
In September and October, the "Best Practices" will be showcased in a series of five forums conducted at the community college campuses in the region: Jamestown Community College (Jamestown, Olean, and Dunkirk campuses), Genesee Community College (Batavia), and Niagara County Community College (Sanborn).

How the project will continue to work after its funding is over:
A database will be created that will centralize and store the information pertinent to shared and consolidated services in Western New York State, with the goal of making the "knowledge base" permanently available to elected officials and other community leaders who can benefit from the information. The data base will be publicly available and will provide intermunicipal services cases, contact names and information, so local leaders can continue to get answers and support after this project concludes in January 2007.

• State Comptroller Alan G. Hevesi: "Local governments provide a variety of important services to residents, and today many are being forced to deliver these services with fewer resources. My office is looking at many ways to help local governments improve their operations and deliver services to the public in the most cost efficient way possible. We are excited to tap into the expertise at SUNY Fredonia to help this effort and are confident that the University's work will have a long-term impact on municipalities all around the State."
   
  
• Dennis L. Hefner, SUNY Fredonia President: "SUNY Fredonia has made a major commitment to supporting projects that assist the economic development of our region. This current joint initiative with the State Comptroller's Office is another in the long list of collaborative projects undertaken by our Center for Rural Regional Development and Governance over the past nine years. We look forward to working with Mark Thomas on this important initiative."
   
  
• Leonard E. Faulk, Director of the Center for Rural Regional Development & Governance, and Project Consultant: "The Intermunicipal Services project will aid our region in its movement toward world class, globally competitive regional governance structures. It meshes perfectly with the Center's mission, which is to foster more efficient government through the sharing of regional resources and responsibilities."
   
  
• Hon. Mark Thomas, Project Director: "The current New York State budget contains $25 million in incentive aid available on a competitive grant basis to local governments that want to move forward with shared services or consolidation of services. Local government leaders have an unprecedented opportunity to tap into these dollars and get projects off the ground. We will help them do that."

May 31, 2006