Chemung County (population 88830)
Name of service/government operation: Purchasing Department
Form of sharing: County Purchasing Department oversees all purchasing and bid requirements for the County and the City
Services affected: all purchasing
Year started: 2009
Partners: County/City/several towns
Primary goal(s)/motivation(s): to consolidate all purchasing operations and bidding process for all local governments in the County.
What planning process preceded the sharing? numerous meetings with elected officials and department heads
What governance structures and/or agreements are required to maintain this agreement? intermunicipal agreements
Challenges: to get all local governments within the County under the same department
Benefits: uniform purchasing, reduce costs, professional operation
Impact on budget: $100,000 savings on personnel. Several hundred thousand in savings by going out to bid on many items and services county-wide.
Impact on labor: insignificant
Impact on service: far better
Key contact: Peggy Chalk, Purchasing Director