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Eliminate Municipal Government?

Eliminate Municipal Government?. June 22, 2010 Bergen Community College. “ It is impossible to defend the present system that legitimizes municipalities the size of Bill Gates’ living room. ”. - Alan Karcher. Bergen County: The Good…. The Bad….

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Eliminate Municipal Government?

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  1. Eliminate Municipal Government? June 22, 2010 Bergen Community College

  2. “It is impossible to defend the present system that legitimizes municipalities the size of Bill Gates’ living room.” - Alan Karcher

  3. Bergen County:The Good…

  4. The Bad… More local governments per square mile than ANY other state in the US and more than these eight states combined: Wyoming Rhode Island Nevada Delaware Maryland Arizona New Mexico Hawaii

  5. The Bad… 70 municipalities, 76 school districts • 68 Police Chiefs • 76 School Superintendents • 70 Borough Clerks • In 2009, the total payroll for these three positions ALONE totaled over $30 million.

  6. And The Ugly • Crushing tax burden for families and businesses • Wasteful spending and duplication of services • Too much reliance on property taxes • No access to Federal Community Development Program Dollars

  7. What Is The Answer? Maintain Status Quo? Shift Services? Increase the Number of Municipalities?

  8. Is It The answer is NO! Reasonable? Sustainable? Desirable?

  9. What Is The Answer? CONSOLIDATION Combine Bergen County’s 70 municipalities into professionally managed regional structures while maintaining individual town identity.

  10. Consolidation will look something like this.

  11. How Will it Work? Regional Administration will professionally manage these services • Executive • Administration • Police • Fire & EMS • Public Works • Court System • School Administration

  12. The County Government Will Change, Too The County government will be critical to the successful transition to the regional structures that we propose.

  13. A Regional Example Glen Rock – HoHoKus - Midland Park – Ridgewood - Washington Twp. Population 58,000 Municipal Budget – Over $100 Million School Budget - $170 Million

  14. A Regional Example • 5 Mayors • 5 Borough Administrators • 5 Borough Clerks • 5 Police Chiefs • 5 Superintendents • 5 Boards of Education • 5 Assessors • 5 Borough Attorneys • 5 Municipal Courts • 5 Building Code Officers • 5 Court Administrators • 4 Emergency Mgmt Officers • 5 Fire Chiefs • 5 Judges • 5 Library Directors • 4 Recreation Directors • 4 Recycling Managers • 5 Boards of Health • 3 Social Services Managers • 5 Public Works Managers • 8 Tax Collectors/Treasurers

  15. The Whole Picture The Cost of Municipal Government Current Budget Over $3.8 Billion 70 Municipalities Proposed Savings 10 - 20% or $385 - $770 Million Per Year $427 - $855 Per Resident

  16. This is not a UtopianIdeal …Others Have Done It Louisville, KY Fulton County, GA Seneca Falls, NY • Similar to Bergen County – tri-state area; pop. 1.2 million • Voted down two times before collective mentality changed • 20% reduction in operating costs and employees since 2000 consolidation • Similar population to Bergen County (about 1,000,000) • Property taxes about 30% less for same house value • March 2010 - voters chose to disband government to save tax $$ • Projected tax rate will go from $16.93 to $8.82 for a savings of $811 per $100,000 in property value

  17. How Home Rule Hurts Standing Between Now and The Future The Home Rule myth keeps residents of individual towns separated and creates a system of inefficiencies. Expensive Secretive Wasteful

  18. How Consolidation Helps Communities partner to create dynamic regional structures that support and enhance each town’s culture, character and affordability. Affordable Collaborative Efficient

  19. Lower property taxes Better services Even distribution of services Affordable future Increased transparency in government Eligibility for Federal Grants What Will Consolidation Mean for Your Family?

  20. Setting Expectations for Success Timeline: • One Year to get State Mandate • Two Years to Implement • One Year for Review • 2-5 Years to Realize Cost Reductions

  21. What do we need to make this work? Political courage Leadership in the political and civic arenas Funded state mandate Revised tax structure Detailed implementation plan – 2 to 5 years PR strategy Transparent monitoring You need to be engaged!

  22. We Can’t Afford NOT to Change! Cost of running Bergen County for one year: Billions of $$ Future Cost of Maintaining The Status Quo: Billions MORE $$$ Changing our Perspective: Priceless

  23. Many Thanks To… We would like to thank the following people for their time and counsel. Paul Aronsohn, Ridgewood Council Member Sheila Brogan, Ridgewood Board of Ed and Founding member of Dollars$ and Sense Tony Cancielleri, Former Deputy County Executive, Nassau County NY Dr. Henry Coleman, Bloustein School, Rutgers University Kevie Fiet, Mayor of Teaneck Ken Gabbert, Ridgewood Village Manager and Upper Saddle River Mayor Gina Genovese, former Mayor Long Hill Township and Executive Director, Founder of Courage to Connect NJ Leo McGuire, Bergen County Sheriff Dennis McNerney, Bergen County Executive Dr. James Montesano, Paramus Superintendent of Schools Chris Poynter, Deputy Director, Louisville Metro Council Dr. David Redlawsk, Eagleton Institute, Rutgers University Professor Ernest Reock, Rutgers University Pete Rustin, Mayor of Tenafly Peter Shapiro, Former Essex County Executive William “Pat” Schuber, former Bergen County Executive Bob Smith, New Jersey State Senator Loretta Weinberg, New Jersey State Senator And all of you!

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