2006 –
We questioned
and listened
We asked:
if we were to create Marion City
and/or County today, would we design a government structure with 29
political subdivisions? With 10 fire services? With separate city
and county health departments? With 5 school districts?
We heard:
those citizens who participated in the
EnVISIONing the 21st Century process. Many suggested creative ways
to consolidate government and public service should be explored.
results of the Marion County Needs
Assessment in which respondents felt it beneficial to consolidate
fire districts and health departments.
the Marion League of Women Voters who
reached consensus regarding the provision of public services for
people in Marion County, by supporting long range planning that
would result in optimal financial and resource utilization.
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2007 –
We moved
to action
We spoke:
with Marion City, County and Township
officials to seek their concurrence with a plan to gain efficiencies,
enhance productivity and/or realize financial savings through
consolidation of public services. Elected officials supported the
effort.
We financed:
a study by Maximus, Inc. to identify
potential reduction in cost through eliminating redundant service
deliveries and/or identification of improvement in service quality.
Departments studied were the City Parks and Recreation and the City and
County Health Departments.
We obtained results:
Analysis of budgeted operations
for both the City Parks and Recreation and the City and County Health
Departments resulted in significant savings. Sharing from the Maximus,
Inc. report:
• The County and City Health
Departments should consolidate operations into a single, “Combined
Health District.”
• A combined District has
the potential to reduce the number of Administration employees by 1.0
FTE and Environmental Health employees by 2.0 FTEs, for an estimated
reduction in operating costs of $254,000.
• A combined District,
utilizing the County’s current fee schedules has the potential to
increase revenues by an estimated $6,500 annually.
• A combined District,
operating from a central location, will improve the delivery and overall
quality of its services and programs not only quantitatively – through
reducing costs – but also qualitatively.
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2008 –
We will
advocate for change
Across our country, local
government is experiencing budget constraints; citizens’ income cannot
keep up with local governments’ rising cost; business is hampered by
regulations and escalating costs. What can be done?
Your Chamber believes those
elected officials who have expressed support for consolidation of
services are the leaders who can propel change within Marion City and
County. We believe consolidation of public services will be a benefit
to our business community and taxpayers.
We will share results of the
Maximus’ study with our County Commissioners, the Mayor and City
Council, the Marion County Health Board, the Marion City Health Board,
and the District Advisory Council members. We will jointly inform our
citizens through local media sources and convene community meetings to
heighten awareness.
We will ask local government
to
be accountable by being
considerate to the taxpayer. We will advocate change.
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