Oroho-Space-McHose “Common Sense Shared Services Pilot Program Act” Signed into Law

WASHINGTON, D.C. – October 17, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) — Bipartisan legislation sponsored by Senator Steve Oroho and Assembly Members Parker Space and Alison Littell McHose, all R-Sussex, Warren and Morris, that creates a pilot shared services program in Camden, Morris, Ocean, Sussex and Warren counties, was signed into law by Gov. Christie today.

“This measure gives municipalities another means to share services, which will in turn reduce costs and the burden on taxpayers,” said Oroho. “Local spending can be significantly reduced when towns have the ability to share services.”

The law, S-533, also provides that the affected positions are not subject to tenure in office and the designated incumbents may be removed from office in order to carry out a shared service agreement or a joint contract.

“Shared services is no longer just a concept in New Jersey,” said Space. “This pilot program will serve as a catalyst for other counties to follow and allow them to also reduce unnecessary and costly redundancies in government. Towns have consolidated and school districts are streamlining their structures. We are finally at the point where bureaucracy will not impede the efficiencies towns can implement that will help taxpayers.”

The new law also authorizes municipalities to enter into shared service agreements or joint contracts for joint meetings for paid fire protection purposes and allows for the preservation of the seniority, pension rights and tenure of every full-time firefighter involved.

“People are looking for solutions to a problem that is consistently ranked as their number one concern – property taxes,” said McHose. “The cost of government increases each year, with homeowners and businesses left to pick up the tab. This pilot program finally puts a concept into action. We will finally have empirical evidence that indicates this solution works and provides the savings taxpayers deserve.”