June 1, 2022
The New York Department of State today announced Livingston County and its partner municipalities have received a total of $412,304 in state matching funds via the County-Wide Shared Services Initiative (CWSSI). Livingston County and its municipal partners identified three ways to consolidate services and save taxpayer money through government efficiencies in health care services, including dialysis, emergency medical services and prescription drugs and centralized programs to better serve the public while saving taxpayers money.
“Continued efforts by our partners in local government to discover efficiencies are saving money and protecting New York taxpayers,” said Secretary of State Robert J. Rodriguez. “The County-Wide Shared Services Initiative is just one of the tools we offer to help municipalities streamline services to better serve communities around the state and we look forward to future cost savings to protect our resident hard-earned money.”
During this fiscal year, the CWSSI is providing a 100 percent state match of taxpayer savings achieved through the implementation of new shared services identified in county-wide plans produced as a result of the Initiative.
The shared services projects that were implemented are as follows:
Dialysis Services - CWSSI award total - $160,394
- Livingston County partnered with Wyoming County to establish a Dialysis clinic, sharing their respective resources, and achieving cost savings for both counties.
Shared County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) - CWSSI award total - $32,292
- Livingston County and the municipalities of Avon (town), Avon (village), Caledonia, Dansville, Geneseo, Groveland, Leicester, Lima, Livonia, Mount Morris, Nunda, Springwater and York joined to consolidate EMS delivery.
Prescription Drug Savings Program - CWSSI award total – $219,618
- Livingston County joined the Capital Region BOCES Pharmacy Purchasing Coalition to create savings for prescription drugs.
Senator George Borrello said, “Shared services programs at the local level are tremendously valuable in promoting efficiency in the delivery of services while saving taxpayers money. Since my time in county government, I’ve been a champion of these efforts, which are truly representative of the extraordinary dedication that characterizes those who serve at the local level. My sincerest congratulations go out to the officials in Livingston County on this well-deserved award as well as all the county residents it will benefit.”
Senator Patrick M. Gallivan said, “I congratulate county, town and village leaders for working together to identify creative ways to save money through government efficiencies. By providing matching funds, the state is incentivizing municipalities to collaborate in ways that maintain vital services while saving taxpayer dollars.”
Assemblywoman Marjorie Byrnes said, “In the current financial climate, it is particularly important for our municipalities to make every dollar count. The cooperation between local, county, and state agencies will benefit all of us. “
Chairman of Livingston County Board of Supervisors David LeFeber said, "Livingston County is thankful for this grant award from the Department of State. As a County, we pride ourselves on working together with our governmental partners to bring more cost-effective and efficient service delivery to our residents. Our community expect us to be working collaboratively and cooperatively on their behalf and the projects noted in this plan are examples of these partnerships."
The CWSSI generates property tax savings by facilitating collaboration between local governments across the state. Over the last five years, the CWSSI program has awarded more than $34 million in matching funds to 21 counties, supporting 97 shared services projects, and generating approximately $35 million in savings to local governments.
Guidance documents regarding the CWSSI and state match application process, as well as past CWSSI plans, are available here.
The County-Wide Services Initiative is administered by the Division of Local Government Services at the Department of State. The Division provides technical assistance and competitive grants to local governments. For more information on CWSSI or any programs administered by the Division, please contact [email protected] or call 518 473-3355.
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