Thumbs up: Horseheads, county plan to trim costs
A plan to reduce the cost of local municipal services is in the home stretch with an agreement between Chemung County and the Village of Horseheads on running the village's police department.
The plan could save village taxpayers up to $90,000 a year, but now faces some last-minute opposition effort by a slate of candidates seeking election in the municipality. The three candidates, calling themselves the New Direction team, paradoxically want to head in an old direction. More on that later.
The proposed agreement that would save village taxpayers some major folding money has Chemung County Undersheriff William Schrom overseeing the village's police force. Supervision of village police would be an extra duty while the undersheriff continues in his present county job. The opportunity for the shared service arrangement came when Horseheads Village Police Chief Michael Barton retired from the job in early July after serving 21 years on the police force.
Under the agreement, Horseheads will pay the county $17,000 a year for Schrom's services. Schrom's salary will be bumped from $86,096 a year to $105,000 to account for his additional responsibilities.
The plan needs approval from the county legislature when it meets on Monday, and Schrom could begin his duties in Horseheads on Sept.1.
The arrangement — sparked by a tough economy and a shrinking population — is part of a growing number of shared service agreements between the Chemung County and local municipalities, and among municipalities.
During the past 40 years, the county's population has seen a gradual decline. The pattern is similar for most of the county's local municipalities — including the Village of Horseheads. The village had 7,988 residents in the 1970 census, but just 6,461 residents in the 2010 count.
Fewer residents mean fewer taxpayers. That requires governments to find less expensive ways to deliver services to the public.
The challenge of change facing local public officials reinventing their governments to operate effectively and efficiently is essential and difficult work. The county legislature should take that challenge and approve the plan Monday.