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We don't need to consolidate our governments to achieve a cost savings.
- Opposing group's website |
Fact: As to cost-savings, Plante Moran has identified the $500,000 per-year minimum savings that will come from consolidating two currently duplicated municipal overhead functions into one. This is the only way to realize these substantial savings, and deliver them year after year. No savings of such a magnitude have yet been reliably identified by the consolidation-opposing group. So for us to realize these savings, yes, we do need to consolidate our governments.
Probably the second-largest cost-savings opportunity--although not yet assigned a dollar amount--will come from creating one public works department instead of two. This opportunity will almost certainly receive the scrutiny it deserves during the course of the CRC independent consolidation study. Not that many years ago, when one of the two local governments proposed a "co-operative agreement" to share one such department, the other local government rejected it out of hand. So apparently, in the case of savings from public works, consolidation is necessary.
While it's gratifying that even opponents are suddenly embracing the need for finding serious cost-savings opportunities in our local government, their statement here doesn't address the primary reason for consolidation. Consolidation isn't just about a more efficient government, it's about formulating one vision for our community, a compelling strategic vision to carry Saugatuck Douglas to a successful future. Having two different visions, each supported by only half our citizens, is the civic equivalent of competing with one hand tied behind our back. And make no mistake, Saugatuck Douglas is competing... for economic development, for tourists, for jobs, for new residents, for new businesses. We need the talents and energies of all our citizens working toward the same goals to be successful in this critical competition.
Probably the second-largest cost-savings opportunity--although not yet assigned a dollar amount--will come from creating one public works department instead of two. This opportunity will almost certainly receive the scrutiny it deserves during the course of the CRC independent consolidation study. Not that many years ago, when one of the two local governments proposed a "co-operative agreement" to share one such department, the other local government rejected it out of hand. So apparently, in the case of savings from public works, consolidation is necessary.
While it's gratifying that even opponents are suddenly embracing the need for finding serious cost-savings opportunities in our local government, their statement here doesn't address the primary reason for consolidation. Consolidation isn't just about a more efficient government, it's about formulating one vision for our community, a compelling strategic vision to carry Saugatuck Douglas to a successful future. Having two different visions, each supported by only half our citizens, is the civic equivalent of competing with one hand tied behind our back. And make no mistake, Saugatuck Douglas is competing... for economic development, for tourists, for jobs, for new residents, for new businesses. We need the talents and energies of all our citizens working toward the same goals to be successful in this critical competition.
