Town and Village of Pawling Interim Study of Consolidation
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Town and Village of Pawling Interim Study of Consolidation NOVEMBER, 2020 (518) 458-7112 • – This Page Intentionally Blank – Town and Village of Pawling Interim Study of Consolidation Acknowledgments Laberge Group would like to acknowledge and thank the members of both the of Pawling Town Board and the Village of Pawling Board of Trustees Town of Pawling Village of Pawling Hon. James Schmitt, Town Supervisor Hon. Robert Liffland, Mayor Hon. Philip DeRosa, Councilman Hon. Daniel Peters, Deputy Mayor/Trustee Hon. William Johnson, Councilman Hon. John Burweger, Trustee Hon. Jim McCarthy, Councilman Hon. Earl Slocum, Trustee Hon. Colleen Snow, Councilwoman Hon. Lauri Taylor, Trustee To provide input on existing conditions as well as post-consolidation service provision, the Town and Village of Pawling each appointed two board representatives to serve as the Interim Consolidation Report committee. Should the vote to consolidate pass on November 30, 2020, additional resident members may be added to this committee. We would also like to extend our sincere appreciation to the many staff members who provided valuable insights on operations and who collected and submitted significant data and program information, local input, and guidance throughout the process in order to produce this study of consolidation for the residents of the Town and Village of Pawling. Town and Village of Pawling Interim Study of Consolidation 1 Table of Contents I. Executive Summary ...................................................................................................................................... 4 What is the Consolidation of a Village and Town? .............................................................................................. 4 What is an Interim Study of Consolidation............................................................................................................ 5 History in Shared Services and Consolidation ..................................................................................................... 6 How will Governance, Services, and Functions of the Village Change? ......................................................... 8 Summary of Estimated Fiscal Impact.................................................................................................................... 17 One-time Transition Costs, Potential Recurring Cost-Savings and Tax Shift ............................................. 17 II. Introduction ................................................................................................................................................. 22 Background on Voter-Initiated Reorganization ................................................................................................ 22 What will happen after the Referendum? ........................................................................................................... 23 What are the required components of the Consolidation Plan to be prepared by the Town and Village Boards?........................................................................................................................................ 24 Interim Study of Consolidation .............................................................................................................................. 25 Funding for the Interim Study of Consolidation ................................................................................................ 26 Situational Overview ................................................................................................................................................. 26 III. Governance Options ................................................................................................................................ 27 Representation ........................................................................................................................................................... 27 Governance and Elected Positions ........................................................................................................................ 28 Town and Village Services, Service Delivery, and Employees ....................................................................... 30 Employee Considerations ........................................................................................................................................ 31 Chief Elected Officials and Legislative Boards ................................................................................................... 32 Central Services: Town and Village Clerks, Administrative, Fiscal and Legal Services Functions...... 32 Planning Boards and Zoning Boards of Appeals ................................................................................................ 34 Building Department................................................................................................................................................. 36 Sewer Services ........................................................................................................................................................... 37 Water Services ........................................................................................................................................................... 39 Highway Services and Capital Improvements .................................................................................................... 40 Law Enforcement and Public Safety Services ..................................................................................................... 42 Refuse Collection, Disposal, and Leaf Pick Up .................................................................................................... 43 Justice Courts ........................................................................................................................................................... 45 Facility and Grounds Operations ........................................................................................................................... 46 Street Lighting ........................................................................................................................................................... 46 Sidewalks ........................................................................................................................................................... 47 Community Beautification ....................................................................................................................................... 47 Fire Services ........................................................................................................................................................... 47 Town Services Provided Town-wide .................................................................................................................... 49 Library Services .......................................................................................................................................................... 50 IV. Post-Consolidation Fiscal Impact .......................................................................................................... 51 Methodology ........................................................................................................................................................... 51 Current Property Tax Levies ................................................................................................................................... 52 Calculation of the Citizen Empowerment Tax Credit (CETC) ......................................................................... 53 Projected Cost Savings and Increases ................................................................................................................... 53 Town and Village of Pawling Interim Study of Consolidation 2 Transition Costs .......................................................................................................................................................... 54 Projected Property Tax Impact .............................................................................................................................. 56 V. Town and Village Assets and Liabilities ............................................................................................... 59 Fund Balance ........................................................................................................................................................... 59 Real Property and Personal Property .................................................................................................................. 59 Liabilities and Debt .................................................................................................................................................... 60 VI. Local Laws, Resolutions and Regulations ........................................................................................... 61 VII. Single Entity Coterminous Town-Village ........................................................................................... 62 What is a Coterminous Town-Village? .................................................................................................................. 62 Does a Coterminous Town-Village Meet the definition of Consolidation pursuant to Article 17-A of the General Municipal Law? .......................................................................................................