Village of Cooperstown (population 1852)
Name of service/government operation: Court
Form of sharing: Consolidating Village court into towns
Services affected: Court
Year started: 2013
Partners: None
Primary goal(s)/motivation(s): The Village can save approximately $35,000 by consolidating its court with the towns. The Village board just passed a law to that effect. If there is no citizen petition to put the issue on the March ballot, consolidation will take place in March 2014, at the end of the current justice term.
What planning process preceded the sharing? Meetings with justices, village attorney, town supervisor, mayor, trustees.
What governance structures and/or agreements are required to maintain this agreement? Once the law goes into effect, it is wholly in the hands of the towns.
Challenges: To village, none. To towns, finances.
Benefits: Savings to village with no loss of services.
Impact on budget: The equivalent of a 2% tax hike ($35,000).
Impact on labor: Court clerk will be transferred to town.
Impact on service: None
Key contact: Village Clerk Teri Barown, 607-547-2411