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

Bergen County:Bergen County:The Good…The Good…

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.

ConsolidatiConsolidation on

will look will look something something like this.like this.

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!