New Jersey mayors push for shared services

New Jersey Senate President Steve Sweeney says he’s trying to remove the roadblocks to increased consolidation of municipal services.

Several New Jersey mayors are joining the leader of the state Senate in pushing for changes to state regulations they say are making it difficult for local governments to share services.

Senate President Steve Sweeney said Tuesday arbitration and civil service reforms that are part of Governor Chris Christie’s tool kit proposals will help government run better. But he said far more savings could come from sharing municipal services.

“We have too much government in New Jersey,” said Sweeney. “Way too much government and the lack of sharing or the fact that we have just started to scratch the surface of sharing is where the real dollars are.”

Mayors say civil service rules and liability insurance hamper efforts to consolidate services. Sweeney said he’s working with local officials to develop legislation that would remove some of those roadblocks.