GOVERNMENTAL CONSOLIDATION --- MAKING THE LEAP FROM RHETORIC TO REALITY

It was a little more than a month ago that County Executive Nick Pirro and Mayor Matt Driscoll were touting the virtues of consolidating County and City governmental services. Matt was setting up a series of meetings with representatives of all municipalities in Onondaga County. It was hoped these elected officials would reason together to bring about the elimination of duplicative and wasteful functions. The expressions of vision and cooperation were high minded. Of course, since virtually no
consolidation of a major function of city and county government had ever taken place anywhere in New York State, the likelihood of early success could hardly be viewed with optimism. Then with the first real challenge, i.e., the apportionment of monies created by a 1% increase in the sales tax, early expressions of good will turned into acrimony. Matt wants the City to receive 25% of the estimated 65 million in new monies to be collected, the same percentage it receives under the sales tax distribution formula now in place. Nick has taken the position that the sales tax is a county tax and the City should be happy to receive the 8 million the County legislature has decided it deserves.

Behind this dispute are a number of factors that have not been part of the public debate. One of course is political self interest or survival. Elected officials generally vote on the basis of what they see as an immediate advantage to their constituents, even though a broader vision might bring about a better long term result for the people they represent and the wider community as well.

A related consideration can best be described as the unwillingness of elected officials to relinquish turf. As an example, Nick has claimed that County has offered to consolidate purchasing, economic development and data processing which he argues if accepted by the City would have saved it up to a million dollars (PS 4/29/04). Nick admits these changes would be modest but could constitute a step forward. Since these proposals were ignored or rejected by both Democratic Mayor Driscoll and his Republican predecessor Roy Bernardi, party affiliation does not seem to be the problem.. A factor at work undoubtedly has to do with patronage or control over hiring and firing. Nick says in his letter to the Post Standard (4/29/2005) that County financial aid must be accompanied by County participation in how the money will be spent. What is meant by “participation” has not been spelled out. Is Nick suggesting that the County would totally take over these functions in exchange for the million dollar cost savings to the City or will a good faith effort be made to consult with the Mayor in the hope that he will insist that those running any newly created consolidated purchasing, data processing and economic development departments be staffed by highly qualified and impartial professionals?

Nick rightly points out that local governments are in great need of a new business model. Any such new structure must necessarily involve a transfer of resources and control to and from existing governmental subdivisions. In my view, the most sensible solution would be to take a giant step by planning now to merge City government as it presently exists with the surrounding towns and create a new greater metropolitan Syracuse. Of course, it would be hard to find a town official today who would not strongly resist even the suggestion of such an idea. After all, more than one out of five City residents live below the federal poverty level while in the towns that number is less than one out of twenty. Any legislator representing a financially healthy town who proposed merging with the near bankrupt City of Syracuse would soon be turned out of office.

With these factors in mind, a two pronged approach seems to be the best course. In the short run, Nick and Matt should put an end to name calling and perhaps with the aid of an experienced mediator hammer out an agreement on the sales tax distribution formula that they can present to their respective legislative bodies. Both should be mindful of the Native American maxim which says in substance: “I shall not criticize another until I walk a mile in his moccasins.” Each should become fully acquainted with the serious fiscal problems faced by the other and try to work toward a new era of cooperation that will replace ancient barriers with mutually beneficial constructive solutions. Mayor Driscoll could take a first step by accepting County Executive Pirro’s offer to take over purchasing, data processing, and economic development functions. It would be Nick’s task to commit to Matt that these agencies will be staffed with impartial professionals who would work for the benefit of both governments.

As for the long run, it seems to me that a total merger of all local governments is inevitable if we are to develop the kind of business model needed to bring maximum benefits to our region. Such a sea change would seem to be at least five to ten years away. But our leaders have a unique opportunity to seek counsel from the highly regarded Maxwell School of Public Administration at Syracuse University. With this kind of support available, the City and County can join together in undertaking a long range planning program to create a new governmental structure equipped to meet the demands of the twenty-first century.

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