ALBANY - $4 million in grants that will help twenty-one municipalities find new ways to reduce local government costs and save taxpayer dollars through consolidation and reorganization were announced on Monday by Governor Andrew Cuomo.   The Local Government Efficiency grants are part of the Governor's agenda to right size government and address the cost-drivers that for years have made New York’s property tax rates among the highest in the nation.

"In today's economic climate, government must learn to be more efficient and find innovative ways to reduce costs to taxpayers," Governor Cuomo said. "Our state cannot afford to place additional burdens on small businesses and working families, and these grants are designed to help local governments reorganize and cut costs, so taxpayers can be protected and municipalities can better serve their residents."

The grants will help cover costs associated with local government efficiency projects, such as planning for and implementation of a consolidation, shared or cooperative services, and regionalized delivery of services.

Approved projects include the consolidation of public safety and emergency communications between the City of Glens Falls and Warren County and the consolidation of the Hamlin, Morton, and Walker Fire Districts in northern Monroe County and Orleans County. Also, six schools will be assessing consolidation, including the Chenango Forks and Chenango Valley School Districts, the Romulus and South Seneca Central Schools, and the Ticonderoga and Crown Point Central School Districts.

The Erie 1 BOCES will develop a program that centrally manages the use of all that region’s school districts’ computers from one data center. While the Town and Village of Marcellus, and the Marcellus Central School District will consolidate wastewater services.