New York State Executive Chamber | Governor Eliot Spitzer

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 23, 2007

COMMISSION TO TARGET EFFICIENCY AND COMPETITIVENESS

Governor Spitzer Appoints Stan Lundine to Lead Effort

Governor Spitzer today signed an Executive Order creating the Commission on Local Government Efficiency and Competitiveness, which will review ways that New York State’s over 4,200 local governments can save taxpayer dollars and become more efficient by sharing services and undertaking regional collaboration. The Commission will be chaired by former New York Lieutenant Governor, Congressman, and Mayor of Jamestown, Stan Lundine.

“The sheer number of taxing jurisdictions has led to a significant degree of overlap in public services, which has had a devastating affect on local tax burdens” said Governor Spitzer. “Under Stan Lundine’s leadership this Commission will help local governments administer services more efficiently and cost effectively.”

“We are extraordinarily fortunate that Stan has agreed to take on this task,” Governor Spitzer added. “His experience at three levels of government, understanding of these issues, and commitment to bringing people together around a solution make him uniquely qualified for this job.”

Former Lieutenant Governor Lundine said: “I applaud Governor Spitzer's commitment to regionalization and local government efficiency and I am honored to be part of this effort. There is much that can be done to drive efficiency at the local level without reducing the public’s access to important services. I am honored to chair this Commission and look forward to working with Commission members to advance the Governor’s agenda.”

Under the Executive Order, the Commission will be composed of fifteen members, including four recommended by the legislative leaders of each house and one by the State Comptroller. The Commission members include current and former local government leaders, academics and other experts in this field.

The Commission is tasked with identifying barriers to more efficient local government through merger, consolidation and or regionalization of services, and partnerships that enable localities to provide services more efficiently. The Commission will also advance smart growth and other regional initiatives that can improve the efficiency, competitiveness and quality of life of New York’s localities.

The Governor announced that he will be sending a letter to local officials across the state, asking them to identify at least one major initiative that is already underway or can be initiated this year, which could be a test case for the Commission’s one-year regional efficiency study. The Commission will use a selection of these programs to study how regionalization of services can be applied at state level.

The state will provide assistance and support via state agencies including the Department of State, the Office of Real Property Services, the Division of the Budget, the Empire State Development Corporation, and the Governor’s Office of Regulatory Reform. In addition, the Commission will work with independent agencies – the Office of the State Comptroller and the State Education Department.

A small staff will support the Commission directly, and the project will be overseen by Lloyd Constantine, Senior Advisor to the Governor. The Commission is to carry out its preliminary analysis within one year, reporting its recommendations by April 15, 2008.

A website has been established: www.nyslocalgov.org for ongoing public involvement in the process and where ideas for local government reform can be shared with the Commission.

The Members of the Commission are:

Appointed by the Governor Former Lt. Governor Stan Lundine Former Lt. Governor Alfred Del Bello Gerald Benjamin, Ph.D. Jonathan Drapkin Kathryn Foster, Ph.D. Hon. Sandra Frankel Former Mayor William Johnson Hon. Jamie Rogers G. Thomas Tranter, Jr. Hon. Howard Weitzman

Appointed by the Comptroller Mark Pattison
Appointed by the Senate Majority Leader Hon. Elizabeth O’Connor Little
Appointed by the Senate Minority Leader Hon. Craig Johnson
Appointed by the Assembly Speaker Hon. Sam Hoyt
Appointed by the Assembly Minority Leader Walter Robb, Ph.D.

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The Governor’s letter to local officials is available at
http://www.ny.gov/governor/press//LocalGovEfficiencyLtr4-23.pdf

The Text of Executive Order No. 11 will be made available at
http://www.ny.gov/governor/executive_orders/index.html