Richmondville town and village are looking at more ways they can share services and cut costs by doing so.
To that end, officials from both municipalities agreed Monday night to seek a state grant to see where the two could share and how much they’d save.
The town and village already have several sharing agreements, but officials believe there might be other possibilities in highway departments, planning, administration and office space.
Meeting with Richmondville officials, Robert Roeckle of the Department of State said the town and village could apply for a planning grant of up to $25,000 to determine sharing options.
That could lead to another state grant of up to $400,000 to help put sharing projects into effect, he said.
Mr. Roeckle explained that the state is willing to provide the grants because sharing saves money at the local level.
“The legislature wants to see a good return on their dollars,” he said. “The focus is on sharing and saving.”
The town is looking to build a new municipal building and highway garage, and officials believe there may be ways to share space––and costs––on those projects, with the object being to reduce expenses.
But because Richmondville isn’t ready to take that step immediately, officials decided to seek the planning grant.
“If you’re not sure, a [planning study] would show where you’d save or not save now and in the future,” Mr. Roeckle said.
In the resulting study, a professional would look at budgets and ways the two municipalities do business, Mr. Roeckle said.
“A professional is going to look at areas we haven’t even thought of yet,” village Trustee George Konta said.
And although Richmondville town and village have cooperated well recently, “a professional would be unbiased,” town Councilman Roy Bilby said.
The grant requires a 10-percent local match. If the study will cost $20,000, for instance, Richmondville must fund $2,000, and the state will pay $18,000.
The grant application is due September 23. The two boards will draw up separate lists of priorities, then meet again to combine the lists, Mayor Kevin Neary said.
The town and village each must approve a resolution supporting the grant application, but the resolutions aren’t required until October, Mr. Roeckle said.
The two boards will hold a joint meeting 7:30pm July 28 at the municipal building.