Transcript Regionalism In Rural Communities Presented by: Darin Schulz Director of Finance Chautauqua County July 19, 2009 Darin Schulz, Director of Finance.

Regionalism In Rural
Communities
Presented by:
Darin Schulz
Director of Finance
Chautauqua County
July 19, 2009
Darin Schulz, Director of Finance
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Challenges
• Community Identification Issues
– Most Prevalent with School Districts
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Nepotism
Distrust of Larger Government
Loss of Representation / Service Fears
Lack of Political Will
– Both by Leaders & Constituency
July 19, 2009
Darin Schulz, Director of Finance
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Chautauqua County Average Tax Rates
School %
VILLAGE /
SCHOOL TOWN CITY COUNTY TOTAL of Total
Town Averages
Village Averages
City Averages
$ 19.04 $ 4.50 $ - $ 8.32 $ 31.86 59.8%
$ 19.04 $ - $ 7.25 $ 8.32 $ 34.61 55.0%
$ 19.04 $ - $ 16.86 $ 8.32 $ 44.22 43.1%
Source: Chautauqua County Department of Real Property Tax
July 19, 2009
Darin Schulz, Director of Finance
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School Districts
• 18 Superintendents, Business Offices,
Curriculum Coordinators, Etc.
• Mean Enrollment is 91 Students Per
Grade
• Mode Enrollment is 65 Students Per
Grade
July 19, 2009
Darin Schulz, Director of Finance
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July 19, 2009
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Local Bureaucracy
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Population 135,357
27 Towns -15 Villages - 2 Cities
County Government
Eliminating Boards Does Not Save Money
Directly
• Reducing Staff, Overhead, & Coordinating
Planning Does
July 19, 2009
Darin Schulz, Director of Finance
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July 19, 2009
Darin Schulz, Director of Finance
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Highway Consolidations
• 44 Municipal Entities with Highway
Departments
• One Highway Supervisor for Every 55
Miles of Road
• Significant Duplication of Equipment
• No Central Road Maintenance or Planning
• Shared Services Provide Minor Savings
July 19, 2009
Darin Schulz, Director of Finance
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Policing
• Redundant Coverage
• Excessive Administration / Management
Chautauqua County Policing
Municipality
Village of Silver Creek
Town of Ellicott
Chautauqua County Sheriff
Village of Fredonia
Village of Westfield
Village of Lakewood / Town of Busti
City of Jamestown
City of Dunkirk
Full Time
Equivalents
6
14
75
18
6
12
73
34
238
Total Budget
$350,809
$847,982
$4,753,626
$1,160,625
$420,265
$855,881
$5,225,818
$2,638,370
$16,253,376
Cost Per
Officer
$58,468.17
$60,570.14
$63,381.68
$64,479.17
$70,044.17
$71,323.42
$71,586.55
$77,599.12
$68,291.50
Source: Center for Rural Regional Development and Governance
July 19, 2009
Darin Schulz, Director of Finance
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Summary
• Greatest Inefficiencies Occur Through
Duplication of Coverage/Overhead
• Lack of Central Planning & Control
Prevents Coordinated Service Delivery
• State Government Must Exert Greater
Leverage to Force Consolidation
July 19, 2009
Darin Schulz, Director of Finance
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