Governor, Lt. Governor praise local officials for sharing services, saving taxpayer dollars

HOFFMAN ESTATES — Gov. Bruce Rauner and Lt. Gov. Evelyn Sanguinetti joined local leaders in Hoffman Estates today in unveiling a report highlighting examples of local governments banding together to share services, equipment and expertise to increase government efficiency and save taxpayer dollars.
 
"We are celebrating all of you because you are wonderful examples of how service consolidation and partnership among local governments in this state can reduce duplication, improve services for our communities and decrease the tax burden on our hard-working families," Rauner said. "We have some of the highest property taxes in the country, and they are crushing the people and families in our state. You are showing the way to better government and your constituents are the winners."
 
The Second Edition of the Journal of Local Government Shared Service Best Practices (Journal), published by the Lt. Governor's Office, promotes 20 top examples of ways public entities are working together to cut costs and reduce property taxes. Sanguinetti chaired the Governor's Task Force on Local Government Consolidation and Unfunded Mandates.
 
"With 7,000 units of local government — more than any other state — it is no surprise that Illinois homeowners and businesses pay among the highest property taxes in the nation," Sanguinetti said. "I commend these local leaders for finding innovative ways to deliver more efficient, effective, streamlined services for our taxpayers, and I encourage other local governments to follow their lead.  At the same time, I will continue to fight for legislation to allow citizens the ability to control costs and consolidate units of government as they see fit."
 
The examples in the Journal's second edition were collected from a survey conducted by the Office of the Lieutenant Governor in partnership with many local government organizations, including the Illinois Municipal League, Township Officials of Illinois, Illinois Association of School Boards, Illinois Association of School Administrators, Illinois Association of School Business Officials, Illinois Association of Park Districts, Illinois Association of Fire Protection Districts, Illinois Library Association, Illinois Community College Trustees Association and the Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts.
 
In total, 262 shared service examples were provided for best practice consideration. Out of those responses, 20 were selected to be published in the Journal.
 
Shared service examples range from school districts sharing professional services, equipment, buses and facilities, to park districts joining forces to provide community activities, fire protection districts sharing equipment and expertise, and road districts sharing ice-snow removal services.
 
This year, the unveiling took place at Hoffman Estates Police Department, where several of the entities highlighted in the Journal were recognized.
 
One of the main entities recognized included the Northwest Central Joint Emergency Management System, a cooperative effort by 10 communities to provide regional, shared emergency management services. As a result of the project, each community sees a cost savings of about $50,000 a year. Collectively, all 10 municipalities are saving more than $600,000 a year.
 
"We as the Joint Emergency Management System are honored to receive this shared service best practice recognition. We hope that our program can serve as an example for other municipal or county entities both in the state of Illinois and across the country as another way of providing effective and efficient emergency management," said Mick Fleming, joint emergency management coordinator.
 
Another entity recognized was the Youth Interventionist Program shared by two townships — Oak Park and River Forest — that works to minimize and eliminate the presence of gangs, drugs and violence in the communities.
 
"We've been collaborating for so long that it's understandable if people sometimes lose sight of just how unique and noteworthy this partnership continues to be," said River Forest Township Supervisor Carla Sloan, who pointed out the program is significantly older than all the youths currently served by it. "The sustained support we receive is crucial to individual and collective safety and well-being."
 
Bloomingdale Park District was recognized for its collaboration with the Village of Bloomington, DuPage County, Bloomington Police Department and Bloomington Township Highway Department that saves money and provides more efficient services to residents of the community.
 
"Strong intergovernmental and business community partnerships throughout Bloomingdale have afforded us the benefits of having distinct units of government that are able to offer unique services to our constituents in an efficient and effective manner," said Bloomingdale Park District Executive Director Carrie Fullerton. "We are proud to be a part of improving and enhancing the quality of life in Bloomingdale!"
 
 
The Journal of Local Government Shared Service Best Practices Second Edition can be found here.