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Citizens can lead on local cost cutting |
Group proposes cost cuts for local governments By Derek Harper, A leading state good-government advocacy group presented at a Wednesday afternoon news conference 10 proposals designed to cut local government spending. Similar legislation allowed Montgomery Township, Somerset County, which has a population of 22,958, to save $1 million, Citizens' Campaign Chairman Harry Pozycki said. The group says on its Web site, jointhecampaign.com, that it will provide the actual model ordinances to people who take its free online classes. While about 160 towns allow residents to initiate legislation directly, Pozycki said state law does not allow those bills to deal with budget matters. The municipal cost-saving proposals include: Forming or joining a regional or county emergency dispatching service; Eliminating benefits for part-time elected officials and professionals. Similar proposals have been suggested on the state level, but have not been approved; Sharing computer administrators between schools and municipalities; Energy audits for municipal, school board and county governments; Publishing a budget summary, all labor contracts, total overtime per department and the top five salaries or top 10 percent; Merging zoning and planning boards in towns smaller than 15,000 and having the governing body and planning board handle redevelopment; Contracting with county road departments for local road repairs; Contracting out vehicle maintenance; Reducing trash pickup to once weekly between Labor Day and Memorial Day; Having mayoral task forces for additional municipal service efficiencies and community service. |
