The city of Auburn and surrounding towns will receive some financial help as they look into the possibility of a single water and sewer authority.

The office of state Secretary of State Lorraine Cortes-Vazquez announced Friday that the city and surrounding villages will receive $45,000 for a study on service consolidation. The award was one of three government efficiency grants in the Finger Lakes Region and eight throughout the state that were announced.

The city of Auburn applied for the funds in December after officials from the towns of Fleming, Throop, Owasco, Aurelius, Sennett and the Cayuga County Water and Sewer Authority agreed to participate in a study.

Auburn city officials have said a single, consolidated water and sewer authority would make the system more efficient while making each party a stakeholder. Multiple town officials have said they are open to the idea of an authority. The city currently supplies water and sewer services to each government entity.

Christina Selvek, director of special projects and grants for the city, said the announcement is fantastic news. Because of the state and federal budget crisis, these government efficiency grants have faced greater scrutiny in recent months.

“The city is thrilled this project has been funded and is going to be moving forward,” Selvek said. “Consolidation of water and sewer services is something that should have happened a long time ago in this community.”

Selvek said the water and sewer consolidation study will examine the costs and benefits of a single authority and should be completed by the end of the year. The city and villages will contribute a total of $5,000 to the study.

If the study determines that is the best course of action and all parties are on board, the city will seek another state grant to assist in implementing a new system, she said.

“(Water and sewer service) is such a convoluted process,” Selvek said. “We're hoping to streamline it.”

The two other Finger Lakes grants were awarded to the villages of Seneca Falls and Dansville. The funds, each totaling $49,500, will go toward studies on the advantages and disadvantages of village dissolution.

According to the secretary of state's office, the residents will use the study results to decide whether or not to get rid of their village government. The studies will specifically look at how such a move would affect village services.

The state's local government efficiency grants focus on projects that will save taxpayer dollars and improve services through shared services or consolidation, according to the secretary of state's office.

Staff writer Christopher Caskey can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or christopher.caskey@lee.net