Nj Shared Services Agreement
Saturday, April 10, 2021 in Uncategorized
We understand that tracking change through common services or consolidating requires courage and commitment. Czars Shared Services and the Division of Local Government Services Local Assistance Unit (LAB) support local authorities that support these efforts. The Division`s technical advisors assist you every step of the way. Staff help you prepare your community for future common services or identify opportunities in interested communities that don`t know how to proceed. Once the projects are identified, your community staff helps develop a free feasibility study and develop an agreement. As soon as municipalities decide what happens next, councillors will be available to guide implementation. The LAB promotes a process that involves listening to and protecting all stakeholders, implementing best practices and ensuring that your community does the best business for your taxpayers. A former mayor of Harding Township, Nicolas Platt currently sits on the local council, a position he has held since 2009. Over the years, he and his elected colleagues have provided more effective services through common service agreements that have saved the city hundreds of thousands of dollars each year. The Township played a key role in the creation of a 5 Town Joint Municipal Court, one of the most efficient in the state of New Jersey, demonstrating exceptional savings and superior performance. These cities include Madison, Chatham Township, Chatham Borough, Morris Township and Harding. The state has authorized common services since the 1970s, resulting in hundreds of successful agreements.
Common service agreements that have been notified to the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) since 2011 have saved more than $28 million. “For New Jersey`s 565 municipalities, it is essential to follow common services together so that they can work more efficiently and provide better service to our residents.” Governor Phil Murphy There are nearly 600 school districts and 565 municipalities in New Jersey, many of which offer individual services ranging from canine licenses to fire protection. Governor Murphy calls Bipartisan Shared Services Czars: www.state.nj.us/governor/news/news/562018/approved/20180504b_sharedServices.shtml Jordan Glatt is Director of Strategic Partnerships at the Community Foundation of New Jersey (CFNJ), where he works with businesses, entrepreneurs and families to design non-profit vehicles that are having an impact in New Jersey communities. Mr. Glatt is a two-year former mayor of Summit and has served as a city councillor. As mayor, he worked with cities in his immediate vicinity to reduce costs for his taxpayers, while maintaining a high level of basic services. As an essential part of a broader mission, the Local Assistance Bureau (LAB) of the Local Government Services Service (LOCAL Government Services), in collaboration with the State Czars, provides common services and consolidation assistance to help cities achieve much-needed property tax savings. The division is legally responsible for advising and supporting consolidation efforts. We are pleased to inform you that we have already had such an interest in these programs that we are growing to meet demand. Governor Murphy has approved $10 million to support local units` efforts to secure joint services, and additional resources are available to cover the one-time costs associated with government consolidation efforts. If your community is facing economic pressures, tax challenges or operational failures, or is at a common service hub, our team of professional consultants is here to help. We can be contacted at (609) 292 – 6602 or by email at sharedservices@nj.gov.
Interested municipalities or other local authorities interested in learning more about how joint services can reduce costs for their communities should contact Nicolas Platt and Jordan Glatt at:sharedservices@nj.gov N.J.
