NIAGARA FALLS —
Sharing services is a good thing, especially when it translates to saving taxpayers money.
While consolidation can be scary, it’s something municipalities and boards should consider and it’s something we’ve advocated for years. Perhaps New York’s multi-billion dollar deficit makes it even more crucial to find ways to save.
This month, the Gazette has explored what consolidation/sharing services has been accomplished in area school districts, highway departments, water districts and combining the town and village of Lewiston.
• SCHOOLS: R. Christopher Roser knows a lot about consolidation, having lived through the experience at his previous job. Now, the Lewiston-Porter superintendent says the more than $516 million dollars spent annually by the 10 Niagara County school districts could be cut exponentially if schools are willing to share business and purchasing offices, transportation costs or curriculum-related services. “I think what’s going to happen probably sooner rather than later is we are going to have a centralized school district for a county or for a BOCES region,” he said.
• WATER: Several years ago, leaders from the Niagara Falls Water Board and the cities of North Tonawanda and Lockport agreed to take a closer look at how their respective systems operated to see if it might be possible to share services and reduce costs for ratepayers. Lockport, Niagara Falls and North Tonawanda account for nearly $30 million a year in spending on water and sewer operations and maintenance. “We are still finalizing the savings, but I think there will be some savings and a lot of those savings will be realized over time,” Lockport Mayor Michael Tucker said. We look forward to seeing some of those savings, too.
• ROADS: Town highway superintendents could perhaps teach others a few things about sharing services. “We share equipment, occasionally we share manpower,” Lewiston Highway Superintendent Doug Janese said. “There’s a lot of collaboration going on.” Niagara County Commissioner of Public Works Kevin O’Brien sees the Town Highway Superintendents Association’s shared services agreement as the wave of the future. Clearly, this group is ahead of the crowd.
• LEWISTON: An independent study showed significant savings yet the Village of Lewiston failed to move forward in merging with the Town of Lewiston. Activist Kevin Gaughan said “there are 3,086 counties in America, and in Niagara and Erie counties, we see the highest concentration of local government in America that’s why we pay some of the nation’s highest local property taxes.” A yearlong study done by CRA and Co. determined village taxpayers would see savings of more than $280,000 over the next two years and see property taxes decrease exponentially. Clearly, a merger should be on the agenda.
Opinion
Let’s look at sharing services
- Opinion
-
-
GLYNN: VFW post keeps spirit alive
At one time, members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars-Post 313 would march down Main Street in Youngstown on Memorial Day to the 1812 Cemetery near Old Fort Niagara. That same scenario out of the past occurred for decades in cities, towns and villages across the U.S.
-
HAMILTON: Dandelions, parades, broken poles and people
There are still those remnants of the fading bouquets of floral tributes that still hang at that base of a tree on city hall’s lawn. It is near where, last year, from his shiny silvery cart, Melvin Johnson sold hot dogs and sausages to both city employees and passerbys while his tiny white dog excitingly yelped at anyone that came near.
-
GLYNN: Gillibrand seeks help for prime bread-winners
A recent report shows that working mothers across the Empire State earn nearly 15 percent lower pay for the same work as men.
-
BRADBERRY: There really are spirits in the water
Over the centuries since it was “discovered” hundreds of millions of people have traveled from every corner of the world to visit Niagara Falls making it the most visited of the great waterfalls on the planet.
-
CONFER: The reality of rationed health care
The ongoing debate over Obamacare has brought to light the concept of rationed healthcare. Opponents of health care reform keenly point out that while the bill never explicitly calls out rationing, it features certain provisions that will lead the markets to adjust to strict federal demands and, therefore, dispense certain procedures in smaller amounts or not at all. Because of it being the first time that the subject has really come up in public circles, most people, especially on the right, believe that rationing is something new. It’s not. The free markets have been practicing that for quite some time. I should know; with a 4-inch long, 1-inch wide scar running south of my belly button – and a couple of related scars around my groin – I could be the poster child for rationed health care.
-
CITY DESK: A regrettable error
We owe Carol Sensabough an apology.
Several weeks ago, the long-time reader and Niagara Falls resident sent a letter to the editor explaining that she took offense to some of the things written by a syndicated columnist, Stephen Dick. -
HIGGS: Niagara Falls' own West Side story
Trusello’s Bakery was on Elmwood behind the family home at 840 19th St. The family, Richard, William (Billy) and Sam along with two sisters, lived in the house.
-
GLYNN: Falls, Ont., rolls out red carpet for Wallenda
Before Nik Wallenda even started practicing his high-wire routine in downtown Niagara Falls, state Sen.George D. Maziarz, R-Newfane, had noted the warm welcome the tightrope walker received across the river.
-
HAMILTON: Civic ‘ParticipAction’ can work too
Back in the 1970s, our Neighbors to the North ran a national campaign called ParticipAction to encourage Canadians to get off their butts and do things for the sakes of their bodies.
-
GLYNN: Graduates find they’re in staggering debt
Countless senior citizens often gripe about something, sometimes even with good reason. Perhaps they should consider themselves fortunate, compared with the younger generation.
- More Opinion Headlines
-
Raw Video: Gay Protest Blocked in Moscow
Vatican in Chaos After Butler Arrested for Leaks
Jimmy Carter Endorses Egypt's Election Results
Biden Addresses West Point Graduating Class
Dozens of Children Killed in New Syria Attack
Raw Video: Activists Allege Massacre in Syria
NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz
Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp
Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium
50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning
Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House
Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami
Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window
Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station
Calif.'s Coronado Named Nation's Best Beach
CEO Salaries Become Sore Issue in Labor Disputes
