Plan Includes Eight New Proposals for Better Government Services at Lower Cost to Taxpayers

Albany, NY — Westchester County’s 2018 amended shared services plan, submitted to the New York State Division of the Budget on September 14, contains $27 million in taxpayer savings for the county through streamlined government services and operations.

The plan was drafted by the Rockefeller Institute of Government and the Benjamin Center at SUNY New Paltz for the Westchester County Shared Services Panel, which includes representatives from each municipality in the county. The panel approved the 2018 plan by unanimous vote after three public hearings and input from local leaders and stakeholders.

“Westchester County Executive George Latimer and the shared services panel brought everyone to the table and came out with a plan that saves taxpayers money while improving government services,” said Jim Malatras, president of the Rockefeller Institute of Government. “Stakeholder buy-in and bottom-up planning are the keys to successful shared services plans. Westchester County’s leaders deserve praise for this exhaustive and important work.”

The Amended Westchester County Shared Services and Taxpayer Savings Plan, an update to the 2017 plan, includes eight new proposals that total $7.5 million in savings in 2019, $9.3 million in 2020, and $27 million in recurring savings. The new proposals include:

+ Creation of the Westchester Saves online shared services portal and app, a one-stop shop for shared equipment, personnel, and other services among municipalities.

+ A centralized electronic records system managed by the county.

+ A countywide contract for information technology services to obtain more efficient services at lower cost.

+ Consolidation of law enforcement operations, emergency management operation, and justice courts.

+ Creation of a countywide health consortium to reduce healthcare costs.

+ Enhanced energy efficiency programs.

+ Shared school resource officers.

The plan includes several proposals still under development that could result in further savings.

Read the full plan at http://rockinst.org/issue-area/amended-westchester-county-shared-services-and-taxpayer-savings-plan/