Byram has shared services long before governor's push

Township Manager Gregory Poff says combining services save residents a significant amount of taxes Byram - Last Friday’s speech by Gov. Jon Corzine urging municipalities to combine efforts as a way to save money was not news to Byram officials. For more than two decades, the town has been doing exactly that. “We have far too many layers of government delivering too many similar services,” Corzine said. “Communities can achieve greater savings and potentially better services - in everything from tax assessment, to trash collection, to school administration - through cooperative efforts.” Township Manager Gregory Poff said Byram has been sharing certain services as far back as 25 years, and continually searches for other ways to combine efforts with other towns as a way to reduce the local tax burden. “I don’t think it’s a new concept,” he said. “You look at the Morris county Co-op, they’ve been around over 30 years. I think governments are looking for services to deliver and contain costs. We are looking but there are state rules and regulations that prevent us from doing more. I think that is what the governor is looking into but also to relieve the regulation and burdens that keep us from doing that.” He said the town has been involved with co-op purchasing through Sussex and Morris counties’ Cooperative Pricing Council, administered through Randolph Township. The township and other municipalities pay a fee to the co-op council. The co-op sends out bids for requested services needed by each town. According to Poff, a “major” savings for the town is through combing health services with the county. He said this partnership allows the township to save a significant amount of money that in return relieves taxes for residents. “That’s another big one,” he said. “These are all programs that have been in place for some time. The fact is that the residents are realizing the savings versus their property taxes. It’s not like the savings are spent elsewhere. If Byram had to provide these services, the municipal tax would increase drastically.” Emergency dispatch services are contracted through Hopatcong; however, the town is looking into combining this service with the county, he said. “In terms of what the cost savings are for Byram, to have a dispatch center is prohibitive,” said Poff. “We are looking for a way to save costs to residents. The cost to run a dispatch would be several hundred thousand dollars.” The township also receives money for animal shelter services that are provided to Netcong. According to Poff, the township is searching for other ways to combine services and is exploring further opportunities to merge services with the county. He could not estimate how much money is saved through the different agreements currently in place, but he said they certainly benefit local taxpayers. “It’s hard to put a price tag on it (municipal savings),” he said. “In terms of the co-op services, Morris County puts out a report which details a result of savings of those contracts. I don’t have a number but it is significant. We are purchasing services.”