What Happened?
Many cities nationwide are consolidating various public agencies and departments to make better use of resources, reduce spending and boost performance. When waste is eliminated from redundant or unnecessary operations, municipalities are enjoying access to capital and resources for priority projects and departments.
The Goal
In Connecticut, for example, the Plainville tax and assessor’s departments are combining into a single office after city officials evaluated the possibility for some time. Years ago, Plainville starting taking steps toward the merger by cross-training workers from each department to ensure a smooth transition, while planning for the logistics behind a major consolidation.
Similarly, in Hartford, city officials are interested in consolidating many of its offices and buildings to better manage personnel and assets while eliminating waste. The city would like to bring all of its public departments into one building or a cluster of adjacent buildings. By gathering the departments that are currently spread out across Hartford, officials hope to improve efficiency and communication.
Michigan Merger
The clerk and treasurer offices in Ypsilanti, Michigan, have recently merged into a single department as a result of citywide efforts to cut costs without eliminating valuable services to residents. The consolidation is part of the mayor’s five-year recovery plan focusing on reorganizing public personnel into more efficient departments that create less waste and produce more for the city.
Through careful planning and cross-training of key employees, no staff was terminated during the merger. Not only should the strategy cut costs between the two departments, but also improve customer service for residents with questions or concerns.
The clerk and treasurer offices were a few of the many public departments and agencies considerable viable for a consolidation effort. The city is looking to cut out unnecessary spending to make capital and resources accessible for major improvements and redevelopments. A report from the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments recommended Ypsilanti looking into several mergers and adjustments to achieve $2 million in savings such as:
- Reevaluating personnel wages and benefits
- Focusing on economic development
- Merging the building and planning departments
- Implementing a hybrid police and fire department model
The hybrid model for police and fire departments would be a compromise between slashing costs and maintaining valuable services for residents. Without a consolidation move, the departments would continue to cut back on personnel and services, placing residents at risk in emergency situations.
The hybrid model would be similar to the setup Monroe implemented with separate police and fire departments along with cross-trained firefighters and police officers available to respond to daily service demands. Deputy police and fire chiefs would work under a newly created public safety director overseeing both departments. If one department is busy with an emergency, cross-trained personnel from the other can step in when demand is raised. Each department would retain its administration, inspection unit and knowledge base, while gaining crossover skills to accommodate fluctuations in needs. Thus, less personnel would be required for each department to maintain services.
Planning For A Merger
Gov1 has tracked many consolidation efforts that often stem from an initial study and call for innovative tactics to achieve savings.