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February 2, 2015 Letter to the Editor

Cities and towns are pushing regionalism efforts

Dear Mr. Bordonaro,

In your Jan. 26, 2015, editorial “State Must Re-examine Role of Local Governments,” you mention the Municipal Opportunities and Regional Efficiencies committee championed by now House Speaker Brendan Sharkey. You should know that the 38 towns and cities in the Capitol Region Council of Governments have been charging ahead on more cost effective shared services from a cooperative purchasing council now serving more than 100 towns and cities, to online building permitting in two dozen cities and towns with many more teed up and ready to go.

We support more efficient delivery of services and have been doing ever more of it. We have worked hard on a blueprint for future opportunities in shared services for the region. More needs to be done and state support and incentives can be a major help.

While more efficient general municipal services will help to save money, the savings will be modest compared to overall municipal spending as the same number of direct providers such as police, fire, and snow plow operators will still be required.

Since 65-70 percent of many municipal budgets are dedicated to K-12 education, more needs to be done to integrate town and education support services and to have K-12 spending grow no more than inflation with the appropriate adjustment for school population.

Chip Beckett Beckett and Associates Veterinary Services, Glastonbury Chairman Capitol Region Council of Governments

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