Governor Kathy Hochul announced Cayuga, Chemung, Clinton, Columbia, Dutchess, Erie, Madison and Niagara Counties together received a total of more than $2.7 million in state matching funds via the County-Wide Shared Services Initiative (CWSSI).
During this fiscal year, the CWSSI provides a 95 percent state match of taxpayer savings achieved through the implementation of new shared services identified in county-wide plans produced as a result of the Initiative.
The counties' plans identified ways to consolidate services and save taxpayer money through government efficiencies in services and community programs.
The breakdown of the counties that received matching funds by region is as follows:
Western New York
Erie County – Received $148,957 in State Matching Funds: Erie County expanded its Utilities Aggregation program to the Town of Cheektowaga and the Towns of Collins and North Collins shared an assessor to achieve taxpayer savings.
Niagara County – Received $392,027 in State Matching Funds: Niagara County implemented a countywide digital pictometry project that allows local governments to view aerial photographs to help with code enforcement and assessment of tax parcels.
Niagara County also engaged in solid waste management consulting with the Cities of Niagara Falls and North Tonawanda to review and implement changes related to their sanitation and recycling collection programs. Finally, Niagara County shared IT services with the Town of Pendleton and shared a road milling machine with the Town of Newfane.
Southern Tier
Chemung County – Received $110,755 in State Matching Funds: Chemung County engaged with eight towns and villages in public works partnerships and IT support to achieve savings. One key project the County implemented was to use its Laserfiche technology to digitize records and modernize recordkeeping for the City of Elmira, the Village of Horseheads, and the Towns of Ashland, Millport and Horseheads.
Central New York
Cayuga County – Received $406,601 in State Matching Funds: Cayuga County implemented two cost savings projects. In 2018, Cayuga County joined with the City of Auburn to renovate the City-owned minor league baseball stadium Falcon Park, to be used as a joint athletic facility by the City of Auburn and Cayuga Community College for three collegiate athletic teams.
In its second project, the Cayuga County Office of Real Property Tax Services provided assessing services for the town of Springport.
Madison County – Received $161,804 in State Matching Funds: To achieve savings, Madison County shared IT services with the Town of Sullivan.
The County also provided highway services to City of Oneida and the Towns of Stockbridge, Smithfield, Cazenovia, Madison, Nelson, Hamilton, Sullivan, Georgetown, Brookfield, De Ruyter, Lebanon, Lenox, Eaton and Fenner.
In addition, Madison County shared snow removal and mowing services with the Towns of Cazenovia, Madison, Stockbridge and
ullivan.
North Country
Clinton County – Received $116,168 in State Matching Funds: Clinton County realized savings through projects to consolidate services in several towns for wastewater operators, paving roads and website services. The County also facilitated the joint purchase of an asphalt hot box for the towns of Ausable and
eru.
Capital Region
Columbia County – Received $247,750 in State Matching Funds: Columbia County collaborated with several towns on five projects including management information services, human resources training, joint purchasing of office supplies and Real Property data and revaluation services.
Mid-Hudson
Dutchess County – Received $1,199,480 in State Matching Funds: Dutchess County implemented several measures to achieve taxpayer savings including a salt purchasing cooperative, shared purchase of public safety software, joint purchase of municipal sewer equipment and shared vehicle safety equipment. ■