For the Long Island Index,CGR conducted a landmark study comparing local government costs in the 2 counties on Long Island with 2 comparable counties in northern Virginia. Including school districts and special districts, Long Island has 439 local government entities compared with 17 in northern Virginia. Long Island governments spend 45% more, per capita, than their northern Virginia counterparts, and local property taxes are 55% higher on Long Island. Yet a separate comprehensive survey of both regions found that citizens in northern Virginia rate the level of service provided by local governments and schools higher, and say they have better access to government officials. CGR’s detailed analysis of school district and fire services illustrated that a fragmented management structure restricts cost-effective use of resources and thus, in New York State, is a significant contributing factor to high costs and high taxes for local government.
Subsequent to the study, CGR was selected by Nassau County on Long Island to be among a key group of consultants addressing consolidation planning issues for the county. That work is ongoing. In late 2007, CGR also undertook a study of local government costs in Northeast Ohio. |