Regionalization of municipal services that provides cost savings or smart growth

With decreasing state aid available for local governments, policy-makers have been calling upon municipal leaders to work with their neighbors to develop efficiencies to cut costs and relieve the burden placed on local property taxpayers. Homefront Connecticut supports efforts to encourage municipal cooperation that will maintain vital services while providing cost savings to local taxpayers.

Homefront Connecticut is opposed to efforts by state government to mandate regionalization of services and believes the sharing of municipal services and regional collaborations should be done on a voluntary basis when such efforts will result in improved services for taxpayers and lower costs.

Connecticut has many examples of effective and efficient regional initiatives such as regional school districts. Rather than mandating these types of initiatives, state government should develop incentives to promote regionalization efforts done on a voluntary basis between Connecticut towns.

CAR supports Regional Performance Incentive Grants provided by the State to towns that collaborate in regionalization efforts.