Talk of raising the NYS minimum wage to $8.50 is causing a stir. CGR President & Chief Economist Kent Gardner says consequences – both good and bad – would be in order should the proposal be implemented. WNYC – The Empire Blog
As Chautauqua County grapples with rising costs of managing its public nursing home, it looks to other counties experiencing similar struggles. The Observer
Local economic gains that some call “the Rochester miracle” have given rise to optimism, but CGR’s Kent Gardner notes there is still “concern that we'll see (Kodak) people leave the community.” Democrat & Chronicle
"Compromise seems impossible," says CGR’s Kent Gardner of the Democrat-Republican standoff in Washington, one of several risk factors he says challenges potential for U.S. economic recovery. Democrat & Chronicle
The Community Indicators project commissioned by the United Ways of Cayuga and Seneca counties represents “an excellent way […] to identify strengths and weaknesses within several key areas.” AuburnPub.com
The statistical community profiles executed by CGR in partnership with the United Ways of Seneca and Cayuga counties cover 70 indicators in seven key categories. AuburnPub.com
CGR’s Kent Gardner suggests that constituent “interests [may] not be as aggressively perceived” by new representation if political lines are redrawn as proposed. 13 WHAM
The New York State Economic Development Council has approved four new programs to help statewide development professionals, including CGR’s Inform Analytics – a new software tool to help IDAs evaluate costs and benefits of projects. Long Island Business News
Village and Town boards in the Genesee County community are looking into creating a City of Dansville, following through on a recommendation made by CGR. The Genesee Country Express
Taxpayer savings are anticipated if the Village of Hudson Falls dissolves, according to a CGR report. But the recent “no” vote to dissolution in nearby Corinth shows voters may be resistant to change. The Post-Star
County lawmakers are looking into hiring CGR to provide an analysis of the County Home as they consider selling the facility or changing operations. The Post-Journal
Voters in two Mohawk Valley counties separately rejected proposals to consolidate local governments and school districts, partly because of a strong sense of local identity. Rome-Sentinel
As four villages look into dissolution of their shared Town of Rye in Westchester County, one of them – the Village of Mamaroneck – presents a significant challenge to the project. Rye Sound Shore
By a vote of 338 to 209, voters in the Saratoga County village decided not to disband their local government and merge with the Town of Corinth. The Saratogian
After hearing findings of a CGR study in December, commissioners of the Hamlin, Walker and Morton fire districts will discuss plans to merge. Democrat & Chronicle
The study of a regional high school concept in Ontario County NY is only the most recent example of state-incentivized exploration of improving school district efficiency and quality. Democrat & Chronicle
Dissolution of the Village of Corinth, located on the banks of the Hudson in the Adirondack foothills, could result in savings of between $108 and $460 per year for a property assessed at $100,000. The Post-Star
The Rye Town Supervisor – one of four elected officials on a steering committee overseeing CGR’s study of governance and service options in the Town and three Villages – said the baseline report was as good as any he’s ever seen. Rye Main Street Connect
The region’s largest employer is responsible for 47,000 direct and indirect jobs with a combined impact of $2.3 billion in wages, according to CGR. 13 WHAM
The dissolution/shared services study in the Town of Rye (Westchester County) is unique among similar studies in NYS. A public forum will be held Jan. 12. Rye Main Street Connect
The nine school districts in Ontario County NY who are participating in the study of a regional high school are applauded “for being proactive.” Messenger Post
CGR estimates that the interchange improvements at I-390 and Kendrick Road could result in 850 construction jobs, $42 million in income from labor and 20,000 new jobs over 20 years. Democrat & Chronicle
A regional high school study in Ontario County NY is at the heart of a county-wide discussion on how school districts can cope with fiscal issues and declining enrollment. YNN
CGR’s study in Ontario County revealed that reducing the number of high schools would translate to a property-tax reduction of about $50 annually for a $100,000 house, or $4 million cumulatively. Democrat & Chronicle
Under the umbrella of Westchester County’s Rye Town are three separate villages, all of whom are looking into how to be more efficient and share more resources amid a difficult economy. A CGR study will look into how the municipalities can face the future. Port Chester Patch
Facing declining state aid and enrollment, school districts in Ontario County are looking into proposals for a regional high school laid out in a CGR report commissioned by Wayne-Finger Lakes BOCES. 13 WHAM News
CGR’s Kent Gardner and other experts shared encouraging insight with the Rochester Rotary Club about the local and national economic climate heading into the new year. Democrat & Chronicle
The New York Times points out how the local service economy is humming in NY’s Southern Tier amid Marcellus Shale drilling activity. According to CGR’s Kent Gardner, “these communities have the [necessary] infrastructure.” The New York Times
“You’re welcome,” reads RochesterMade.com as images of Rochester’s best-known innovations scroll across the screen. CGR President and Chief Economist Kent Gardner weighs in. Democrat & Chronicle
The Mayor of Perrysburg, where dissolution is effective on December 31, gave a farewell address at the final regular meeting of the Cattaraugus County, NY village. MetroWNY
According to the Wall Street Journal, Rochester “ticks many of the standard Rust Belt boxes. Crumbling corporate benefactor? Check. Acres of vacant lots? Check. Soaring unemployment? Well, no.” The Wall Street Journal
Voter rejection of a plan to axe the police department in Yorkville NY and merge with Oneida County patrol “keeps alive a proposal to merge Whitestown’s four village departments with the town force,” an idea supported by CGR research. The Utica Observer-Dispatch
After a CGR report showed the move would be fiscally sound, residents of Perrysburg voted to dissolve their village effective on December 31, 2012. The Observer
As the first city-town consolidation in New York State gets underway in Genesee County, CGR Senior Associate Scott Sittig notes that the process is gaining national attention. WBTA AM-1490
Village trustees in Painted Post (Steuben County) will consider the possibility of dissolving into the Town of Erwin when they meet in January, based on a CGR study that showed lagging growth. The Corning Leader
By a vote of 54-50, voters in Altmar approved an elector-initiated dissolution plan. As a result, the village will be the first to be dissolved under a new NY law. CGR was engaged as study / plan consultant. Syracuse.com
A record number of school children in Orange, Ulster, and Sullivan Counties in New York are living in poverty, according to a CGR study commissioned by local non-profit organizations. Times Herald-Record
Experts on municipal finance say the Princeton merger is a sign of things to come as local governments everywhere deal with budgetary stress. The Bond Buyer
The group charged with resolving differences between the two Princetons ahead of the upcoming consolidation are facing “a lot of work,” says CGR’s Joseph Stefko. AllPrinceton
In a piece on what to do with failing schools, 13 WHAM cites CGR’s recent study which indicated that new schools in the Rochester City School District are showing mixed outcomes. 13 WHAM
As a task force works to develop a new city charter legally consolidating the City and Town of Batavia, residents can stay informed by visiting the project website. The Batavian
The Financial Accounting Foundation (FAF) announced the appointment of CGR’s Joseph Stefko, along with four others, to the Governmental Accounting Standards Advisory Council (GASAC). Financial News Reports
In its first review of the Princeton consolidation, the Wall Street bond rating agency indicates that Princeton’s new “sum” will be greater than its parts. Newark Star-Ledger
The county legislature will hire a consultant to aid them in exploring a sale or lease of the Valley View nursing home after reviewing a CGR report. Mid-Hudson News
A piece in the Philadelphia paper opines that “there’s a redundancy of mayors, superintendents, public-works directors, and fire and police chiefs” in Pennsylvania. Philadelphia Inquirer
CGR’s Kirstin Pryor and Erika Rosenberg say “it’s critical to reflect the whole picture, because we want schools to continue to be open to the kind of observation and feedback that helps drive growth and improvement.” Rochester City Newspaper
A former mayor of Princeton Borough says a well-planned timeline and substantial community engagement are behind voters’ resounding “yes” to consolidation. Times of Trenton
CGR’s Joseph Stefko says the Borough and Township must draft a plan and appoint an implementation task force to guide the transition process after voters approved consolidation. The Princeton Packet
The national publication cites CGR findings that consolidation would save $201 for the average borough property, and $240 for the average township property. BusinessWeek
Budget talks in Ulster County, NY are focused largely on the fate of the Golden Hill Health Care Center, but CGR has proposed a menu of alternatives. Times Herald-Record
After voters in the Saint Lawrence County, NY village rejected the notion of dissolution, CGR’s Charles Zettek points out some possible reasons behind the dismissal. WWNY-TV
CGR's Joseph Stefko, who directed the Princeton consolidation study, says "the real difficult work to transition to a merged government begins now." NJ.com
Five new reform-oriented Rochester (NY) city high schools are performing better than the district as a whole, but a CGR report reveals weak spots. Rochester City Newspaper
The company’s astronomical third-quarter losses are causing a surge of pessimism, but CGR’s Kent Gardner observes that "there is little the community can do." Democrat & Chronicle
The number of residents in the Rochester NY region on food stamps has more than doubled, but CGR President Kent Gardner says the recession is not solely responsible for the increase. Democrat & Chronicle
In an analysis commissioned by the Ulster County NY Legislature, CGR’s Joe Stefko found little room for adjustments to this year’s county budget. The Daily Freeman
The Princeton Borough-Township consolidation vote is called “the first test case of Governor Chris Christie’s campaign to cut government costs by merging towns.” Bloomberg News
More than 20 residents have asked Genesee County legislators not to do away with a child care program offered in the County Nursing Home, as the future of the facility is questioned. The Daily News Online
The Republican candidate for Princeton Borough mayor has announced support for consolidation, while the Democratic candidate maintains no official position. The Daily Princetonian
Looking at trends identified by CGR, the Finger Lakes Regional Economic Development Council is finding that area colleges have an economic footprint that spreads far beyond the purview of their higher education work group. Democrat & Chronicle
A private company is first in line to buy Orange County’s Valley View Center for Nursing Care, but a CGR report raised questions about the matter early on in the process of looking into privatization. Times Herald-Record
CGR will provide a facilitator to assist Batavia’s consolidated charter task force in writing the new rules to govern a unified city and town. WBTA AM 1490
CGR’s Kent Gardner and University of Rochester President Joel Seligman gave reasons for optimism about the region’s economic future. Rochester City Newspaper
Close to 100 Princeton residents attended a public meeting on the proposed consolidation between Princeton Borough and Princeton Township, which goes to a vote on Nov. 8. Princeton Patch
The Finger Lakes Regional Economic Development Council identifies optics, imaging and photonics as a cornerstone of what will become a five-year growth plan for Greater Rochester. Recent CGR research sheds light on the potential impact of resulting wages. Democrat & Chronicle
The mayor of St. George, Missouri is asking voters to deal a final blow to their tiny town. It’s not unusual: Facing a recession, a housing slump, and depressed tax revenue, “citizens [today] are willing to say, ‘Let’s put ourselves out of business,’” observes CGR Vice President Charles Zettek in a Bloomberg News article on municipal dissolution. Bloomberg News
A task force looking into consolidation of the City and Town of Batavia publicly recommends CGR as the best-equipped consultant to handle the task. The Daily News Online
The Monroe County poverty rate increased by four percent since 2000, meaning an additional 35,000 people in the community entered poverty over the decade. CGR Chief Economist Kent Gardner weighs in. 13 WHAM News
A second installment to the City Paper series “Eye on Education” draws from a CGR study in its analysis of teachers in the Rochester City School District. Rochester City Newspaper
CGR led development of the proposed consolidation plan for the Princeton borough and township. Article is a feature on the community and the issues involved. Washington Post
The Rochester region is becoming more of a tourism draw to visitors from outside the region, allowing 14,000+ local residents “to feed their families without having to move away from their homes and a rural lifestyle they prefer,” says CGR’s Kent Gardner. Democrat & Chronicle
New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli is pushing a bill to strengthen oversight of local development corporations amid scrutiny of the savings they generate. CGR President and Chief Economist Kent Gardner shares his insight. Democrat & Chronicle
Director of Public Finance Joseph Stefko, is directing a budget review project in New York’s Mid-Hudson Valley Region, discovering restrained budget growth and a stable property tax levy in Ulster County. LoHud.com
CGR is partnering with three other firms to analyze and propose options for the future of Summit Park Hospital and Nursing Care Center in Rockland County, NY. LoHud.com
Substantial attendance and engaging questions characterized the first of three public forum meetings for CGR’s Study of Governance and Service Options in Rye, NY, putting momentum behind the initiative to analyze the potential dissolution of the town. RyePatch
In calling attention to a September 10th public forum regarding a CGR–led dissolution study of the Westchester County town, a local newspaper declares that “these are unusual times in the collection of villages that make up the Town of Rye.” Lohud.com
Rising costs and an ever-growing deficit have led Cayuga County leaders to seriously consider closing down a publicly-funded nursing home, heeding advice from a 2007 CGR report on the financial concerns facing New York’s public nursing facilities. AuburnPub.com
An Albany Times-Union reporter and contributor to Capital New York takes a hard look at Governor Cuomo’s attempts to aid cost-sharing and consolidation efforts across New York State municipalities, citing CGR’s recent project in Altmar, NY. Capital New York
Joe Stefko, Public Finance Director, calls the nation’s credit rating downgrade “just one more piece to the puzzle” of challenges facing governments at the state and local level across New York. WGRZ
The Albany Times-Union blog, Capitol Confidential, explored the rising tide of consolidation and cost-sharing efforts in towns and villages across New York State. Capitol Confidential
The Village Board of Altmar, NY, located in Oswego County, voted to approve a dissolution plan prepared for the community by CGR. If no petition is filed by members of the community calling for another vote, Altmar will dissolve into the Town of Albion in 2013. Syracuse.com
The Ossining village and town’s Board of Trustees hired CGR to help lay out alternative government structure options for the Westchester County community. The Daily Briarcliff
At a public hearing on a plan to dissolve the Village of Altmar into the neighboring Town of Albion, residents brought up only a handful of concerns. Syracuse.com
Facing rising costs and growing local tax bills, Mohawk Valley residents at a “tipping point” in the face of consolidations and mergers of local government agencies. Utica Observer-Dispatch
According to local officials, the developer of the near-empty Monroe County mall has not invested the amount required under a tax deal. Rochester City Newspaper
Increased collaboration among Northeast Ohio’s governments could preserve vital services while increasing the region’s competitiveness. Youngstown Business Journal
With shortfalls nationwide that could reach $112 billion in the next fiscal year, states including Ohio, New Jersey and Michigan are pushing school districts and local governments to share more services and to consolidate for the sake of efficiency and cost. “I've never seen such a consistent push across so many different states,” says CGR’s Charles Zettek Jr.
You are considering moving your family to Ulster County. You want to know about the county's schools — how good are they? How do they stack up to school districts across the river in Dutchess County? The answers to those questions are usually anecdotal, sometimes prejudicial and inaccurate. But a new website developed by CGR provides factual, comparative answers to questions about everything from education assessments to poverty levels to local economies.
It’s in the mail – a letter from Herkimer County to towns asking if they want to participate in shared-service arrangements to take on work such as mowing roadsides, garbage and trash pick-up, pothole repair, road sweeping, ditching and the like on county roads for payment. Working together in new ways was one of the recommendations of a CGR report examining ways to increase efficiency.
About 50 people attended Potsdam’s first major forum on dissolution and received an outline of a 100-page report documenting what exists in the village, put together by a 15-member study committee and aided by CGR.
Craig Smith served CGR for 43 years, 27 as director. He left a lasting legacy. For example, in Monroe County, where CGR is based, studies conducted during his tenure led to the creation of Monroe Community College, the centralization of library services, and consolidation of parks and public health services. He will be remembered as an excellent leader who made a difference.
It’s a sign of the times ... the term “budget shortfall” has become a hard one to dodge in discussions of state and local government finance. Budgets are tight, and many state and local governments are facing serious financial challenges.
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