Sharing Services Can Save Money for Taxpayers, DCED Secretary Blake Reminds Local Leaders

HARRISBURG, Pa., Jan. 6 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- With many city, borough and township budgets stretched to the limit, Department of Community and Economic Development acting Secretary John Blake is reminding local leaders that teaming up to provide government services can often save valuable taxpayer dollars.

"The souring national economy is challenging our local governments unlike almost any other time in history," Blake said. "Inter-municipal approaches involving regional police agencies, emergency response equipment, computer systems or energy management programs are very important to advance community and economic development because they can provide for more effective and efficient service delivery while reducing fiscal pressures."

As an example, now thatWashington County'sWest Alexander Borough has merged withDonegal Township, Blake said taxes will eventually stabilize because the costs of police protection, snow removal, tax collection services and road maintenance are shared among more residents.

The merger, which took place on Jan. 1, isPennsylvania's first sinceSouth Philipsburg Borough,Centre County, combined withRush Township in 2005.

DCED's Shared Municipal Services Program provides grants to projects that either promote cooperation among municipalities or encourage more efficient and effective delivery of local-government functions. More than $8.6 million has been distributed from the program since 2003.

Based within DCED, the Governor's Center for Local Government Services is the primary point of contact on the shared services program and for communities considering merging or consolidating. The center also provides training and technical assistance to municipal officials and employees, helps solve problems at the local level, and advocates for the mutual benefit of state and local government.

For more information, visit www.newpa.com/center or call 1-866-466-3972.

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EDITOR'S NOTE: A list of Shared Municipal Service Program projects approved this year is below:

Allegheny County

    --  $127,500 to the City of Pittsburgh for the Pittsburgh/Allegheny County
        Energy Auction.

Berks County

    --  $34,500 to Muhlenberg Township for the Muhlenberg/Laureldale Emergency
        Preemption Project, which will enhance the safety and effectiveness of
        current emergency response procedures.
    --  $30,000 to the Berks County Commissioners for the automation and
        integration of criminal justice records among county law enforcement
        agencies, the Court of Common Pleas, and the Administrative Office of
        Pennsylvania Courts.

Butler County

    --  $5,000 to Butler County Council of Governments for buying a
        retro-reflectometer to assess the readability of road signs.

County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania

    --  $112,100 to the association's Web hosting migration to an
        Enterprise Content Management Program.

Crawford County

    --  $51,500 to East Fallowfield Township to provide start-up assistance for
        the newly merged volunteer fire companies.

Greater West Shore Area Tax Bureau

    --  $165,000 to create a Web-based, user-friendly, self-calculating
        interface that will provide an easier way for taxpayers and tax
        preparers to prepare and file local income tax returns.

Lancaster County

    --  $26,930 to Rapho Township for buying a spray-injection patcher that will
        be shared in Penn and Rapho townships.
    --  $55,000 to the City of Lancaster to offset the costs of information
        technology infrastructure, hardware, software and training needed as the
        city integrates with the county's network system.

Local Development District Association of Pennsylvania

    --  $250,000 for Pennsylvania's Energy Future project.

Luzerne County

    --  $45,000 to Kingston Borough to assist the boroughs of Kingston and Forty
        Fort offset the Kingston fire chief's salary after the functional
        consolidation of their fire and emergency services.

Stroud Area Regional Police Commission

    --  $80,000 for the patrol vehicle electronic program, which will enhance
        officer safety.

Wayne County

    --  $32,800 to Paupack Township to expand its joint code enforcement office.

Wyoming County

    --  $70,000 to the Factoryville Borough Clinton Township Joint Municipal
        Authority for its sewer project.

York County

    --  $80,000 to Springettsbury Township to help pay start-up costs associated
        with the merger of two fire companies that created the York Area United
        Fire and Rescue Unit.

    CONTACT: Janel Miller
    (717) 783-1132

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development

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