LOCAL GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION LEADERS LAY OUT BARRIERS TO SERVICE CONSOLIDATIONS
Michigan State University Institute for Public Policy and Social Research kicks-off forum series with Community Collaboration luncheon forum
Media Contacts: AnnMarie Schneider
Release Date: February 1, 2007
LANSING, Mich. – Association leaders gathered in downtown Lansing on Wednesday to share possible cost savings measures to ease financial burdens for local community services across Michigan. The panel addressed questions and concerns surrounding collaboration of services to a group of more than 100 stakeholders.
"There is no silver bullet," said MSU Extension specialist Eric Scorsone. "But in some areas, particularly urban areas, services consolidations could result in an overall savings of about 15 percent." Scorsone said it isn’t always feasible to combine some services, like police, when safety is compromised for cost. However, Scorsone said feasibility studies have found major savings potentials in emergency and fire consolidations
He said state incentives and grant matching could help facilitate cooperation and overcome transition costs. And he said laws need re-evaluation to provide enough flexibility for communities to combine services like emergency and fire. Association leaders agreed that barriers to cooperation exist but most areas are looking for ways to reduce costs, and state incentives may be an effective way to promote cooperation.
"One great concept for cooperation is regional jails, but, there are political and geographic boundaries that need to be taken into consideration,” said Tim McGuire, executive director of Michigan Association of Counties. “But the reality is counties have a track record of cooperation in areas of mental health, public health and community corrections."
Dan Gilmartin, director of Michigan Municipal League pointed out that collaboration, on a large scale, comes with many risks. He said failed attempts at collaboration in Toronto forecast many economic and social disadvantages to moving to quickly to combine services.
“And there are a lot more instances of collaboration in the state than we realize, “ he said, adding that inventiveness could be effective to in boosting collaboration efforts whereas state mandates could be disastrous.
Larry Merrill, director of Michigan Townships Association said community identity plays a large role in collaboration decisions. He said shared services do not offer a one size fits all solution to cost sharing. He added that in some areas laws surrounding salaries of employees involved in collaboration actually result in higher costs.
Supported by MSU’s Institute for Public Policy and Social Research (IPPSR), this forum was one of four more to follow this spring. Each forum links current policy concerns with the work of faculty members and practitioners across the State.
The next forum is scheduled for Wednesday, February 21, 2007 and will focus on Governor Jennifer Granholm’s proposed MICHIGAN FIRST, a universal health plan intended to ensure health care coverage for all state residents. More about the forum series is available at www.ippsr.msu.edu or by calling 517.355.6672.
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IPPSR is the nonpartisan public policy network at MSU. Housed within the College of Social Science, the institute is dedicated to connecting legislators, scholars and practitioners through survey, evaluation and applied research, policy forums and political leadership instruction. |
