Blue Mass Group

Reality-based commentary on politics.

September is Massachusetts Regionalization Month

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One area where regional services are taking hold is E911 call centers. On September 3rd, Lieutenant Governor Murray announced almost $8 million in grants to help municipalities implement regional 911 dispatch services. California has four 911 dispatch centers, Massachusetts, with 1/10 the population, has hundreds.

Public health is another area where regionalization could save municipalities. Boston University’s School of Public Health has begun a project to help towns and cities identify areas for co-operation and savings. There is a working model of the regional approach in the Nashoba Associated Boards of Health. Fourteen towns in central Massachusetts have been sharing the costs of providing Board of Health services since 1931.

Communities in the South Coast of Massachusetts are using the regional planning agency,  Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District (SRPEDD), to aggregate purchases of asphalt, road sand and salt, and other commodities in an effort to drive down costs.

Other areas where I think regional services could help to reduce costs are schools, conservation, planning, public works, policing, building inspection, animal control, health insurance, and many other areas. Some that you wouldn’t expect such as Acushnet and Mattapoisett sharing a Town Accountant.

Local boards, agencies and employees hate the idea of regional services, so I think this is a change that must be driven by the taxpayers or by the mayors, managers and Selectmen.

Do you have any examples of regional solutions that are working for municipalities?

I would like to know what they are. Let me know in comments.

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Comments

  1. I don’t know about Eastern Massachusetts, but regionalized services are alive and well and living in Western Massachusetts. Small communities in Franklin County share some town employees. The Hampshire County Group Insurance Trust, part of the Hampshire Council of Governments, is at least as good as the state’s Group Insurance Plan:

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    The Hampshire Council Insurance Department provides group health and life insurance, and insurance consulting services for 27 public employers in Hampshire County, 32 public employers in Franklin County, and 2 public employers in Hampden County. The Finance and Group Insurance Director is appointed by the Council Administrator and is the chief financial officer of the Council and the director of the insurance department. The Council of Governments’ elected Councilors serve as trustees of the Hampshire Council Group Insurance Trust, and the Council Insurance Director serves as the Administrator and Operations Manager of the Trust. The current Director is certified as a Casualty Claim Law Associate, a Chartered Life Underwriter, and a Chartered Financial Consultant. This year, schools and towns in Hampshire County alone saved over $1,500,000 by buying insurance through the Trust.

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    p>In addition to insurance, the HCGIT offers

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    • building inspection and zoning enforcement,
    • cooperative purchasing,
    • distribution of federal surplus equipment,
    • health insurance for employees of regional local governments,
    • short-term rehabilitation and long-term health care, and
    • tobacco control.

    It is currently working on:

    • developing a program for providing lower cost electricity to the region,
    • planning for development of the 106 acre Hampshire Park.

    –Mb

    • I’m not dismissing regionalization out of hand, but just wanted to point out that in the east most towns are well into five figures whereas in the west several towns are just three figures.

      • Regionalizing out here has also been based on need. It was organic, not the result of a Beacon Hill “theory.”

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        p>I also have my doubts about regionalization as it’s being pushed by the state and concerning schools.  

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