Spitzer wants Norwich governments to consider merger

No, it's not WORNG!!

There is a city to our north with a government structure that functions EXACTLY like gov. Spitzer is suggesting Norwich do. That city is called ONEIDA, in Madison County, and it functions fairly WELL!

Rather than have a City of Oneida, surrounded by a Town of Oneida, the entire governement is consolidated. There are two city districts, District 1 (Inside) is the city proper, the major industial section, downtown, etc. District 2 (Outside) is the surrounding rural farmland. The two districts have different tax structures, but are all included in the City of Oneida. They have one fire department, DPW, Police department, court, etc.

Now, any of you that know of Oneida should be well aware that it is far more prosperous than Norwich.

I'm not saying that a consolidated government is the only reason why it is more prosperous, but before the clock-stoppers put the ky-basch to the whole idea, maybe some representatives should take a trip up to Oneida and see how it works there.

WRONG WRONG WRONG WRONG!!!
have participated in these studies into "consolidation" for local communities. Most cases they do not make sense, and if taken to completion individual community Identity is lost in the process.

Honestly, what do you think you can save from these small local budgets? Most of the elected officials work for peanuts. If you have a real "manager" or big town elected official then their salaries will rise accordingly and be far more in total than they are now.

What two towns or towns and villages are so duplicated that you could merge them? Most have their own services and utilities to provide. Merging say the Village of Greene with the town will save little. The vast majority of both budgets go for street lighting, highway maintainence, and any utility service provided, and those pare paid for by the users.

Do you, as a resident of the town of Norwich, want someone from the city of Norwich deciding when your road should be repaved, or plowed? Or the Contrary? Self rule at the local level is the foundation of our country.

The fact is that most local government units are based on Geographic boundaries. They developed out of a need for them to exist. Now, to second guess what our forefathers decided was a good idea is foolish.

Merging two or more entities will not make any difference in cost of operation. The city, towns and county all cooperate quite a bit already. If you look at the kids of costs that can be scut from a merged entity, it is redundant administrative, and supervisory costs that can be cut. In all honesty there is little being spent on those costs now and each town, or village (city) would still have its own highway superintendant, or "foreman" who will simply be the same person who already serves in that capacity.

My suggestion is to create a VOLUNTEER commission to study ways of inter-municipal cooperation and cost saving. It would be volunteer and therefore free, and would produce more tangible results than any "Statewide" intiative. The fact is that the democrats love bigger government. The bigger it is, the better. We need more efficient government thats all!

Holy crap a state run by democrats is saying too much government? Thats an oxymoron in the Democrat handbook right? Did I also see lower taxes, man someone finally realized why business have run out of upstate NY. Lower taxes, better business, better jobs, better schools, less crime. Makes sense to me. Kudos Mr. Spitzer.