FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                         May 20, 2009            

SPANO ENDORSES CUOMO PROPOSAL TO LET VOTERS CONSOLIDATE GOVERNMENTS

Cites potential for significant property tax savings

Saying there is a potential for significant savings to taxpayers, County Executive Andy Spano today endorsed a  proposal of Attorney General Andrew Cuomo to give the electorate the power to eliminate some layers of local government.

         “I am an advocate of reducing the costs of government by sharing and consolidating services whenever possible to save taxpayer dollars,” said Spano. “Attorney General Cuomo’s proposal preserves home rule by making sure these decisions are made by local taxpayers.”

Cuomo’s proposal sets out a way for voters to obtain signatures and then place on the ballot proposals to eliminate a town, village or special district. It also puts forth a streamlined way for county and town officials to get rid of some special districts. 

Cuomo’s proposal complements Spano’s ongoing “shared services” effort to get local governments to save money by taking advantage of services the county government already offers and might be able to provide to the local government or district at less cost.

 The county government is sponsoring a Shared Services Conference June 2 for local officials and districts, where they will hear about the multitude and variety of county offerings, ranging from public safety, information technology, planning, public works, purchasing – and more. Full information is available at www.westchestergov.com/sharedservices .

Spano praised Cuomo for his initiative, adding he awaits the details.