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"A merger might cost more money because the cities would have to draw up a new charter and work through other legal and operational issues." -From a published interview with the leader of a group opposing consolidation
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Fact: Annual cost-savings from consolidation have been reliably established at a minimum of $500,000... per year! Costs
related to creating a charter and other one-time organizational needs are likely far below that number. What's more, the
state's EVIP funds dedicated to underwriting costs for making government more efficient (a primary goal of consolidation),
would be available to defray--or eliminate--the charter-writing legal expense. Finally, many provisions of the current
Douglas city charter are identical to Saugatuck's, so these would remain unchanged.
related to creating a charter and other one-time organizational needs are likely far below that number. What's more, the
state's EVIP funds dedicated to underwriting costs for making government more efficient (a primary goal of consolidation),
would be available to defray--or eliminate--the charter-writing legal expense. Finally, many provisions of the current
Douglas city charter are identical to Saugatuck's, so these would remain unchanged.
