Each Thursday, we put one of our local newsmakers On The Spot. This week: Cayuga County legislator David Axton
This week's question: What work have you done to try to promote shared public works resources between the county and municipalities in an effort to save money?
“Consolidation of services” has become a hot topic in government discussion from the local level all the way to the White House.
In today's economic environment, it is more important than ever to identify duplication of services and cut wasteful spending at all levels of government, as well as school districts, fire districts and police coverage.
As chairman of Public Works for Cayuga County, I am actively looking for ways to work with municipalities to cut costs in all areas.
My committee has asked our highway department to work with municipalities to create more efficient plowing plans, which include trading plowing routes so both municipal and county plows are never in the “up” position while traveling route to route.
We have also asked that towns and villages, if they are interested, take over more of the plowing responsibilities in their areas which can increase their revenue (via increased per-mile funding), while decreasing county costs.
The idea of consolidation of services is a good one, but we all must keep in mind there is a turf war out there that must be overcome.
In the upcoming years, I think we will see more villages being absorbed by towns, more fire and school districts merging, and, quite possibly, a county-wide highway district, all to cut costs and duplication of services.
Leaders of these entities must rise above turf wars and do what's best for the future of their respective groups, and the citizens they serve.
If you have an On The Spot question, call news editor Mike Dowd at 253-5311 ext. 234 or e-mail michael.dowd@lee.net
“Consolidation of services” has become a hot topic in government discussion from the local level all the way to the White House.
In today's economic environment, it is more important than ever to identify duplication of services and cut wasteful spending at all levels of government, as well as school districts, fire districts and police coverage.
As chairman of Public Works for Cayuga County, I am actively looking for ways to work with municipalities to cut costs in all areas.
My committee has asked our highway department to work with municipalities to create more efficient plowing plans, which include trading plowing routes so both municipal and county plows are never in the “up” position while traveling route to route.
We have also asked that towns and villages, if they are interested, take over more of the plowing responsibilities in their areas which can increase their revenue (via increased per-mile funding), while decreasing county costs.
The idea of consolidation of services is a good one, but we all must keep in mind there is a turf war out there that must be overcome.
In the upcoming years, I think we will see more villages being absorbed by towns, more fire and school districts merging, and, quite possibly, a county-wide highway district, all to cut costs and duplication of services.
Leaders of these entities must rise above turf wars and do what's best for the future of their respective groups, and the citizens they serve.
If you have an On The Spot question, call news editor Mike Dowd at 253-5311 ext. 234 or e-mail michael.dowd@lee.net
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Post your comment - click hereThere are 12 comment(s)
Mossyoak wrote on Mar 15, 2009 1:38 PM:
The public and news organizations can do their part by documenting the time spent by employees who sit around their buildings getting payed to sweep the garage and driving the town vehicles on personal business outside their townships.
This is a practice that news organizations have done in major cities and were very successful in getting the people we elect to be held accountable for thier actions.
I have personally started to document the Town of Throop and their acts of Personal use of Town equiment and time spent outside their district on personal business.Talk will not end this abuse but action will. "
irritated wrote on Mar 13, 2009 10:11 AM:
There have been several Thursdays since this thing was published, how about a new article here soon??? "
WISEGUY wrote on Feb 13, 2009 2:21 PM:
bill balyszak wrote on Feb 8, 2009 3:59 PM:
"The towns could consolidate into many smaller districts?" Are you serious?
Building BIGGER BUREACRACIES is your answer to better efficiency?
Unfortunately, then your initial statement doesn't make much sense. However, if I also skip your second paragraph, which I don't agree with, that starts with "I can't see...," then the rest of what you suggest makes sense. Sure doesn't go with what you started off in your comments. Ya, ne ro zum lu. (Ukrainian for 'I, don't understand you')
Stay healthy... "
longboard315 wrote on Feb 5, 2009 12:20 PM:
Couldnt agree with you more Farmers Gal. Whenever a road is dug up for minor work / maint., its usually patched up very poorly and the users of that road are the ones who suffer, not to mention it could be dangerous for drivers! Youd think each city / town in this country would have one of their Public Works people check on road patch-work after the fact to ensure quality work. Its one crack (of several) in the entire system. "
Farmer's Gal wrote on Jan 30, 2009 8:55 AM:
shifty wrote on Jan 27, 2009 10:58 AM:
brew1234 wrote on Jan 25, 2009 4:07 PM:
scouty wrote on Jan 24, 2009 3:14 PM:
irritated wrote on Jan 24, 2009 9:36 AM:
scouty wrote on Jan 21, 2009 9:05 AM:
time for change. "
horseradish wrote on Jan 20, 2009 8:01 AM: