Shared services is a hot concept in local governments, and two Chemung County towns are quickly discovering the benefits.
Local municipalities have been sharing highway services for years, but the towns of Chemung and Ashland recently made it formal with a merger between their two highway departments.
The Chemung County Legislature approved approximately $160,000 in funding over a 10 year period to help with road material costs for the Town of Ashland. County Legislator Rodney J. Strange, R-15th District said this agreement is one that other municipalities should consider joining. “This shared service agreement can be expanded to allow other municipalities in adjoining towns the ability to join in and and save taxpayers thousands of dollars each year with the consolidation of highway services,” Strange said.
Two of the three Ashland highway employees, including the highway superintendent, were set to retire.
Under the new arrangement, which started in early June, the two employees were not replaced and the third became a Town of Chemung employee.
Chemung Highway Superintendent Chris Doane now oversees highway and public works projects in both towns, along with the Village of Wellsburg. Ashland had been handling road work in the village.
“I put together a spreadsheet showing where if things go as planned, both towns collectively should generate $600,000 to $700,000 of positive cash flow for taxpayers. That’s how much costs will be reduced over five years,” said Chemung Town Supervisor George Richter.
“Ashland is paying Chemung $10,000 a month for personnel services. Last year, Ashland’s costs were about $205,000, so they are almost cut in half,” Richter said. “The $10,000 a month we receive will more than cover the cost of additional hires Chemung took on and a small salary increase for the highway superintendent. After that, we will still generate about $35,000 positive cash flow for Chemung. We feel it’s a win-win for taxpayers.”
Richter and Ashland Town Supervisor Vern Robinson started talking about options last November in light of loss of sales tax revenue and other economic factors.
The Town of Chemung maintains 54 miles of roads, while Ashland has 16 miles, along with an additional two miles in the Village of Wellsburg.
Even though the two towns are only six weeks into the new arrangement, everything seems to be working out smoothly, Doane said.
“Everything is going positive and that’s what I like,” he said. “We’ve had no issues so far. It will be a challenge figuring patterns and high traffic and stuff like that. Otherwise it’s pretty simple.”
Other municipalities around Chemung County have been taking similar steps in recent times — with the encouragement of county officials.
County Public Works Commissioner Andy Avery also oversees highway and public works projects for the City of Elmira and Town of Big Flats.
Town of Elmira Highway Superintendent Matt Mustico manages public works crews in the villages of Elmira Heights and Horseheads.
“Those are things we are encouraging municipalities to look at to be more cost efficient and provide greater operating effectiveness,” said Deputy County Executive Michael Krusen.
For Ashland, a small town with a limited budget, the arrangement has been a blessing, Robinson said.
“We’re able to get our road work done and we’re saving a whole lot of money. I’m pretty excited about it,” he said. “We had such a hard winter that was rough on the roads. Chris is doing a super job. I have a lot of high hopes for it. We couldn’t have asked for a better highway superintendent to follow ours.”