New York Department of State Announces Oswego County Awarded Nearly $1.8 Million in State Matching Funds as a Result of Taxpayer Savings Achieved in 2020

The New York Department of State today announced that Oswego County will receive $1,791,212 in state matching funds as a result of taxpayer savings achieved in 2020. The funding is provided through the County-Wide Shared Services Initiative, which provides a one-time state match of county and local government taxpayer savings achieved in the first year of implementation of new shared services projects.

“Our County-Wide Shared Services Initiative plays a critical role in helping local governments run more efficiently and effectively,” said Secretary of State Robert J. Rodriguez. “Through this program, Oswego County worked together with its local government partners to identify new and creative ways to share services, delivering real savings for taxpayers that will repeat annually for years to come.”

As part of the County-Wide Shared Services Initiative (CWSSI), Oswego County created a Shared Services Plan that identified ways to consolidate services and save taxpayer money through government efficiencies in services and community programs. The shared services projects that were implemented as part of this plan and achieved taxpayer savings are as follows:

Pharmacy Benefit Coalition - $1,747,243.09 CWSSI Award
Oswego County partnered with Onondaga County and the City of Syracuse to create a pharmacy benefit coalition. This partnership allows the county to reduce spending associated with administering employee benefit plans and save taxpayer dollars, while also reducing prescription drug costs for employees. Oswego County achieved $1,747,243.09 in taxpayer savings in 2020 as a result of this partnership.

Shared Highway Equipment - $43,969 CWSSI Award
Oswego County obtained a screener, which is a piece of highway equipment, for shared use with the Towns of Richland and Sandy Creek. A screener is used to refine waste roadway materials for wintertime application and is usually towed behind a large utility vehicle, such as a dump truck. Oswego County achieved $35,702 in taxpayer savings in 2020 as a result of this shared service, and Richland and Sandy Creek each achieved $4,133 in taxpayer savings, for a total of $43,969.

Senator John W. Mannion said, "I am pleased that Oswego County will receive $1.79 million in state matching funds to support ongoing efforts to consolidate services, leverage efficiencies, and save taxpayer dollars. The Pharmacy Benefit Coalition and the Shared Highway Equipment projects are two examples of how Oswego County is working to find innovative ways to save money and improve services for residents.”

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Read the full release here.