Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes the state to recommend certain local municipalities share or consolidate services, effective immediately.

Highlights:

• Requires the Local Unit Alignment, Reorganization and Consolidation Commission to develop criteria for recommending the following (Sec. 6):
• The consolidation of municipalities;
• The merger of existing autonomous agencies into the parent municipal or county government; and 
• The sharing of services between municipalities or between a municipality and another public entity.

• Authorizes the commission to recommend sharing services between municipalities which are situated within the same county and legislative district, including, but not limited to (Sec. 6): 
• Counties;
• Fire districts; and
• School districts.

• Requires local municipalities that receive a recommendation to consolidate or share services to approve the recommendation within 14 months of the date of notice, either by approval of voters or adoption of a resolution by the local government (Sec. 9).

• Reduces state aid equal to the estimated net annual savings in the commission's proposal for a local municipality that rejects a recommendation for the sharing of services (Sec. 9).

• Specifies that the committee will consider the following criteria when recommending consolidation or sharing services (Sec. 6): 
• Geographic factors;
• Analysis of economic costs and benefits, including potential tax savings and reductions in government costs; and
• Ensure that costs and benefits are distributed equitably across the entire community.

• Specifies that existing labor contracts are valid until an employee reconciliation plan can be established when local municipalities enter a shared service agreement or joint contract (Sec. 2).

• Authorizes a local municipality to request a relaxation of the provisions, rules and regulations of Civil Service statutes upon joining a proposed shared service agreement or joint contract (Sec. 2).

Full Bill Text