Authorizes the village of Sagaponack, town of Southampton to enter into an inter-municipal agreement for the provision of police services with any town in Suffolk county with which it shares a border

BILL NUMBER:S2921A

Title of bill

An act authorizing the village of Sagaponack in the town of Southampton, county of Suffolk to enter into an inter-municipal agreement for the provision of police services with any town in the county of Suffolk with which it shares a border

Purpose

This legislation would authorize the Village of Sagaponack, Town of Southampton, to enter into an inter-municipal agreement for the provision of police services with any town in Suffolk County with which it shares a border.

Summary of provisions

An act authorizing the Village of Sagaponack, Town of Southampton, county of Suffolk, to enter into an inter-municipal agreement for the provisions of police services pursuant to article 5-G of the General Municipal Law with any town within Suffolk County with which it shares a border and has an established police department pursuant to Section 150 of the Town Law. Any such agreement shall delineate the services to be performed and shall provide the compensation to be paid to the town for such police services. In the instance that such an inter-municipal agreement has been approved and is in effect, no town assessment on property in the Village of Sagaponack shall be made for the maintenance or operation of the town police department, pursuant to Section 150 of the Town Law, nor shall the Southampton Town Police Department have any legal obligation to provide police services, as required by Section 150 of the Town Law. If such inter-municipal agreement is with a town other than the Town of Southampton, the Town of Southampton may by resolution authorize such other town to provide police services for any Town of Southampton property located within the Village of Sagaponack. If the Town of Southampton has not authorized another town to provide police services for any Town of Southampton property located within the Village of Sagaponack, then the Town of Southampton shall be required to provide police services on any such town property, and shall be authorized to assess, levy and collect from the taxable property the Village of Sagaponack for the costs of the Southampton Town Police Department's obligation to provide police services on such Town of Southampton property located within such village.

Justification

Local governments, faced with economic problems such as deficits, taxpayers' objections to new taxes, and the increasing cost-of government services, must look at creative strategies to maximize their revenues. One way local governments deal with these problems is to turn to other local governments and enter into cooperative agreements.

Intergovernmental cooperation may be defined as an arrangement among two or more governments for accomplishing common goals, providing a service, or solving a common problem. Article 5-G of the General municipal Law provides municipal officials in New York State with broad authority to enter into cooperative intergovernmental

agreements. Simply stated, governments may perform a function or service jointly rather than individually.

An important reason for municipalities to seriously look at intergovernmental cooperation is the economies of scale it may produce. Unit costs of service decrease as the volume of the service increases. The citizens of the Village of Sagaponack would be able to realize significant cost savings if they were able to enter into an inter-municipal agreement for their police protection.

Legislative history

New Legislation, 2013.

Fiscal implications

To be determined.

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately.