BILL NUMBER:S2921A

TITLE OF BILL:  An act authorizing the village of Sagaponack in the
town of Southampton, county of Suffolk to enter into an
inter-municipal agreement for the provision of police services with
any town in the county of Suffolk with which it shares a border

PURPOSE:

This legislation would authorize the Village of Sagaponack, Town of
Southampton, to enter into an inter-municipal agreement for the
provision of police services with any town in Suffolk County with
which it shares a border.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

An act authorizing the Village of Sagaponack, Town of Southampton,
county of Suffolk, to enter into an inter-municipal agreement for the
provisions of police services pursuant to article 5-G of the General
Municipal Law with any town within Suffolk County with which it shares
a border and has an established police department pursuant to Section
150 of the Town Law. Any such agreement shall delineate the services
to be performed and shall provide the compensation to be paid to the
town for such police services. In the instance that such an
inter-municipal agreement has been approved and is in effect, no town
assessment on property in the Village of Sagaponack shall be made for
              

the maintenance or operation of the town police department, pursuant
to Section 150 of the Town Law, nor shall the Southampton Town Police
Department have any legal obligation to provide police services, as
required by Section 150 of the Town Law. If such inter-municipal
agreement is with a town other than the Town of Southampton, the Town
of Southampton may by resolution authorize such other town to provide
police services for any Town of Southampton property located within
the Village of Sagaponack. If the Town of Southampton has not
authorized another town to provide police services for any Town of
Southampton property located within the Village of Sagaponack, then
the Town of Southampton shall be required to provide police services
on any such town property, and shall be authorized to assess, levy and
collect from the taxable property the Village of Sagaponack for the
costs of the Southampton Town Police Department's obligation to
provide police services on such Town of Southampton property located
within such village.

JUSTIFICATION:

Local governments, faced with economic problems such as deficits,
taxpayers' objections to new taxes, and the increasing cost-of
government services, must look at creative strategies to maximize
their revenues. One way local governments deal with these problems is
to turn to other local governments and enter into cooperative
agreements.

Intergovernmental cooperation may be defined as an arrangement among
two or more governments for accomplishing common goals, providing a
service, or solving a common problem. Article 5-G of the General
municipal Law provides municipal officials in New York State with
broad authority to enter into cooperative intergovernmental


agreements. Simply stated, governments may perform a function or
service jointly rather than individually.

An important reason for municipalities to seriously look at
intergovernmental cooperation is the economies of scale it may
produce. Unit costs of service decrease as the volume of the service
increases. The citizens of the Village of Sagaponack would be able to
realize significant cost savings if they were able to enter into an
inter-municipal agreement for their police protection.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New Legislation, 2013.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be determined.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

This act shall take effect immediately.