The first meeting to discuss shared services in Salem County was held on June 2, 2007. Mayors, court clerks, and administrators from the County’s fifteen municipalities joined members of the Board of Chosen Freeholders and Senator, Stephen Sweeney in discussing costs and services. The Government Strategies Group was contracted in August 2007 to conduct two Feasibility Studies to consider the merger of municipal courts and creation of a county-wide police force. A later resolution by the Board of Chosen Freeholders amended the contract to include a third feasibility study to look at creating centralized animal control services. Government Strategy Group, specialists in shared services consulting, will produce in depth feasibility studies that will define the critical issues and provide the County and municipalities with workable solutions. They will be meeting with various municipalities to ascertain the feasibility of these shared services. Funding through the New Jersey Department of Consumer Affairs SHARE Grant is to be secured so that the Feasibility Studies will be conducted at no cost to the municipalities. In September 2007, the Board of Chosen Freeholders entered into an interlocal agreement with Cumberland County to fund a feasibility study concerning shared Cultural and Heritage Commissions operations. The agreement is to explore sharing the administrative operations, but the two counties would retain independent Commissions to ensure that local goals are still advanced. This feasibility study is also contingent upon a grant with the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs and will require both Counties to pay $1,000 towards the study. The County is developing a tourism plan with the same consultant as Cumberland County with the idea that joint ventures that will benefit both counties can be developed. According to Deputy Freeholder Director, David Lindenmuth, looking into shared services is a good deal for Salem County because these studies will be conducted at relatively no cost to the County and may provide long-term sustainable tax savings for our residents. “We are a close-knit family in Salem County with many of the same issues, and if we work together we can be the leader in shared services in New Jersey,” said Deputy Director Lindenmuth. “The feasibility studies will be paid for almost entirely by grant funding and in-kind services. If we do not obtain the grant funding, then we will consider other options. However, we believe that we will be successful in obtaining the funding given the Governor’s push for shared services.” It is Salem County’s ultimate goal to provide better services to our residents at a better cost. For more information on Salem County’s Shared Services, contact Robin Weinstein, Deputy County Administrator at (856) 935-7510 x8202 or rweinstein@salemcountynj.gov
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