Local communities and citizens interested in maintaining quality public services in an era of budget crisis and anti-tax fervor can take inspiration from Grand Rapids, Wyoming, Kentwood, Walker, Grandville, East Grand Rapids, and Kent County.
Those communities are finding ways to collaborate and save money on everything from car theft investigations to storm water management. Click here for a full list of their joint projects.
“It is clear that more could be done if only State law would enable it,” they write. “The seven units are limited by laws that place conditions on consolidation of service that artificially drive up costs just when cost savings could be earned. State law also gets in the way of providing service at the most effective level of government. The seven local units have developed efficiency-improving, cost-saving options that are blocked by current law.”
One Comment
I am very pleased you are providing more coverage on ways communities are collaborating. I believe this will encourage more collaborative behavior and embolden those that are concerned about engaging because they are afraid of groups who want to enforce status quo parochiality and narrow interests. Rep. Paul Opsommer has recently introduced HB 4151 “to provide for intergovernmental transfers of functions and responsibilities”. This bill will go along way to helping communites solve problems, preserve municipal services, save precious resources, and maybe even create new services. Communiites don’t have to collaborate but in today’s economy we sure do need the opportunity.