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Michigan: Bipartisan support for consolidation 
from successive administrations...

Jennifer Granholm, Governor of Michigan

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Remarks to the Lansing Rotary Club, January 29, 2010

"Today, I want to talk about transforming government in Michigan to make it less costly, more efficient and more accountable.  Seven years ago, there were 20 state departments – the constitutional maximum. We’ve sliced that number to 15, with more reductions to come. And we’ve eliminated nearly 300 obsolete state boards and commissions.  So today I am unveiling a four-step plan that will further transform Michigan government, saving $450 million in the first year alone.  The four steps are: further reducing the structural deficit; facilitating local government and school cost savings; service sharing and consolidation; enhancing accountability in state government; and improving the management of state finances."  (Full text here.)

Rick Snyder, Governor of Michigan

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Television interview, March 21, 2011

 “'Local officials deserve credit for continually finding ways to make effective use of their limited resources,' Snyder said in a speech aimed at the  Legislature.  However, antiquated laws often discourage (local governments) from taking broader steps such as consolidating or sharing services with neighboring communities.  It is time that we view both challenges and solutions in a regional context rather than confining them to township, city and county borders,' he said."  
(Full text here.)

And from around the country, evidence that government consolidation
is attracting attention just about everywhere!

Local-Government  Consolidation is 
"Network News!"  Full article here.
Thoughtful consolidation op-ed from 
Buffalo, NY makes for interesting reading.
Remind you of anyplace you know?
"Across the land, city governments and town governments and county governments go it alone, pursuing developments alone, pursuing financial work-outs alone, electing and re-electing crowds of officials each by themselves, drawing up master plans that rarely intersect, hiring consultants to do studies and to propose alternatives that somehow, inevitably, leave every boundary unchanged."  Read the full article here.

Nashville, Tennessee Mayor Karl Dean and Toledo, Ohio Mayor Michael Bell discuss the benefits and challenges of government consolidation.

Another case study: Princeton, NJ implementing consolidated government
Again, not exactly the same as the Saugatuck-Douglas proposed consolidation, but here's proof consolidation really can be accomplished.  From NJ.com and The Times of Trenton:  "... members of the consolidation commission, transition team, officials and residents have slogged down that road together in anticipation of the January union that’s been hailed as a big step toward more sensible government." Read more here.

From Indiana:  "Consolidating local government agencies could save hundreds of millions of dollars."  (Full text here.)

From Minnesota: "... do more to develop consolidation as a tool to trim the cost of government."

From New Jersey: "Courage to re-connect..."

From Pennsylvania...
From Youngstown, Ohio...

They even seem to "get it" 
down in Belleville, Illinois.

"All that government creates a lot of potential for fiscal and political incompetence. There are layers of salaries and pensions that taxpayers have to pay plus excessive overhead and duplication of services."

And perhaps most accurate of all...

"Even in tough times, everyone is guarding their fiefdoms, it seems -- even though it makes terrible sense."

Sound like anyplace you know?

... and over in Alpena, too!

Consolidation trend?   
Link to full article.
Macon, Georgia follow-up: 
Voters approve consolidation!
(Click on the article above for the full story; 
"We have embraced the future."  TV coverage link here.)
No, it wasn't the same as what Saugatuck and Douglas citizens are considering--Macon voted on consolidating its city and county governments--but many of the questions and opportunities were remarkably similar, and possibly instructive.  And with a caution we should heed here, the Middle Georgia Telegraph newspaper noted "Much of the opposition to consolidation is rooted in maintaining political power. Some would, as the saying goes, rather 'rule in hell than serve in heaven.'"  

From California:  "Consolidate local government services, save taxpayers."  
(Full text here.)

From New York: "Senate Passes Bill to Ease Government Consolidation"  (Full text here.)

From Auburn, New York: "... consolidation more crucial than ever."