Eliminate Eliminate Municipal Municipal
Government?Government?June 22, 2010June 22, 2010
Bergen Community CollegeBergen Community College
““It is impossible to It is impossible to defend the present defend the present system that legitimizes system that legitimizes municipalities the size municipalities the size of Bill Gates’ living of Bill Gates’ living room.room.””
- Alan Karcher
The Bad…The Bad…More local governments per More local governments per square mile than ANY other state square mile than ANY other state in the US and more than these in the US and more than these eight states eight states combinedcombined::
ArizonArizonaa
WyominWyomingg
New New MexicoMexico
NevadNevadaa
HawaiiHawaii
DelawaDelawarere
MarylaMarylandnd
Rhode Rhode IslandIsland
The Bad…The Bad…
68 Police Chiefs68 Police Chiefs 76 School Superintendents76 School Superintendents 70 Borough Clerks70 Borough Clerks In 2009, the total payroll In 2009, the total payroll
for these three positions for these three positions ALONE totaled over $30 ALONE totaled over $30 million. million.
70 municipalities, 76 school 70 municipalities, 76 school districtsdistricts
And The UglyAnd The Ugly Crushing tax burden for Crushing tax burden for
families and businessesfamilies and businesses Wasteful spending and Wasteful spending and
duplication of servicesduplication of services Too much reliance on Too much reliance on
property taxesproperty taxes No access to Federal No access to Federal
Community Development Community Development Program DollarsProgram Dollars
What Is The Answer?What Is The Answer?
Maintain Status Maintain Status Quo?Quo?
Shift Services?Shift Services?Increase the Number Increase the Number
of Municipalities?of Municipalities?
Is Is ItIt SustainabSustainab
le?le?ReasonabReasonable?le?DesirableDesirable??
The answer isThe answer is
NO!NO!
What Is The What Is The Answer?Answer?
CONSOLIDATIOCONSOLIDATIONN
Combine Bergen County’s 70 municipalities into
professionally managed regional structures while
maintaining individual town identity.
How Will it Work?
Regional Administration will Regional Administration will professionally manage these professionally manage these
servicesservicesExecutiveAdministrationPoliceFire & EMSPublic WorksCourt SystemSchool Administration
The County The County Government Government
Will Change, TooWill Change, Too
The County government will be critical to the
successful transition to the regional structures
that we propose.
A Regional ExampleA Regional ExampleGlen Rock – HoHoKus - Midland Park – Glen Rock – HoHoKus - Midland Park –
Ridgewood - Washington Twp.Ridgewood - Washington Twp.Population 58,000Population 58,000
Municipal Budget – Over $100 MillionMunicipal Budget – Over $100 MillionSchool Budget - $170 MillionSchool Budget - $170 Million
A Regional ExampleA 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
The Whole PictureThe Whole PictureThe Cost of Municipal GovernmentThe Cost of Municipal Government
Current Budget Over $3.8 Billion70 Municipalities
Proposed Savings10 - 20% or $385 - $770 Million Per Year$427 - $855 Per Resident
This is not a UtopianThis is not a UtopianIdeal …Others Have Done ItIdeal …Others Have Done It
Louisville, KYLouisville, KY
Fulton County, GAFulton County, GA
Seneca Falls, NYSeneca Falls, NY
Similar to Bergen County – tri-state area; pop. Similar to Bergen County – tri-state area; pop. 1.2 million 1.2 million
Voted down two times before collective Voted down two times before collective mentality changed mentality changed
20% reduction in operating costs and employees 20% reduction in operating costs and employees since 2000 consolidationsince 2000 consolidation
Similar population to Bergen County (about Similar population to Bergen County (about 1,000,000)1,000,000)
Property taxes about 30% less for same house Property taxes about 30% less for same house valuevalue
March 2010 - voters chose to disband March 2010 - voters chose to disband government to save tax $$government to save tax $$
Projected tax rate will go from $16.93 to $8.82 Projected tax rate will go from $16.93 to $8.82 for a savings of $811 per $100,000 in property for a savings of $811 per $100,000 in property valuevalue
How Home Rule HurtsHow Home Rule Hurts
Expensive Secretive Wasteful
The Home Rule myth keeps residents of The Home Rule myth keeps residents of individual towns separated and creates a individual towns separated and creates a
system of inefficiencies.system of inefficiencies.
Standing Between Now and Standing Between Now and The FutureThe Future
How Consolidation How Consolidation HelpsHelps
Communities partner to create dynamic regional Communities partner to create dynamic regional structures that support and enhance each town’s structures that support and enhance each town’s
culture, character and affordability.culture, character and affordability.
Affordable Collaborative Efficient
Lower property taxesLower property taxes Better servicesBetter services Even distribution of services Even distribution of services Affordable futureAffordable future Increased transparency in Increased transparency in
governmentgovernment Eligibility for Federal GrantsEligibility for Federal Grants
What Will What Will Consolidation Mean Consolidation Mean
for Your Family?for Your Family?
Setting Expectations for Setting Expectations for SuccessSuccess
Timeline:Timeline: One Year to get State MandateOne Year to get State Mandate Two Years to ImplementTwo Years to Implement One Year for ReviewOne Year for Review 2-5 Years to Realize Cost 2-5 Years to Realize Cost
ReductionsReductions
What do we need to make What do we need to make this work?this work?
Political couragePolitical courage LeadershipLeadership in the political and civic in the political and civic
arenasarenas Funded state mandateFunded state mandate Revised tax structureRevised tax structure Detailed implementation planDetailed implementation plan – 2 to – 2 to
5 years5 years PR strategyPR strategy Transparent monitoringTransparent monitoring You need to be You need to be
engaged!engaged!
We Can’t Afford NOT to We Can’t Afford NOT to Change!Change!
Cost of running Bergen County for one year:
Billions of $$
Future Cost of MaintainingThe Status Quo:
Billions MORE $$$
Changing our Perspective:
Priceless
Many Thanks To…Many Thanks To…Paul Aronsohn, Ridgewood Council MemberSheila Brogan, Ridgewood Board of Ed and Founding member of
Dollars$ and SenseTony Cancielleri, Former Deputy County Executive, Nassau County NYDr. Henry Coleman, Bloustein School, Rutgers UniversityKevie Fiet, Mayor of TeaneckKen Gabbert, Ridgewood Village Manager and Upper Saddle River
MayorGina Genovese, former Mayor Long Hill Township and Executive
Director, Founder of Courage to Connect NJLeo McGuire, Bergen County SheriffDennis McNerney, Bergen County ExecutiveDr. James Montesano, Paramus Superintendent of SchoolsChris Poynter, Deputy Director, Louisville Metro CouncilDr. David Redlawsk, Eagleton Institute, Rutgers UniversityProfessor Ernest Reock, Rutgers UniversityPete Rustin, Mayor of TenaflyPeter Shapiro, Former Essex County ExecutiveWilliam “Pat” Schuber, former Bergen County ExecutiveBob Smith, New Jersey State SenatorLoretta Weinberg, New Jersey State Senator
We would like to thank the following people for their We would like to thank the following people for their time and counsel.time and counsel.
And all of And all of you!you!