Applications being accepted for municipal grant program

Funding is available for the 2007-08 Shared Municipal Services Incentive Grant Program, according to Assemblyman Jim Hayes, R-Amherst.

This year, counties, cities, towns, villages, special improvement districts, fire districts and school districts will be eligible for projects that promote shared services, cooperative agreements, consolidations, mergers and dissolutions.

The grant program is an open, competitive process with established evaluation criteria. Extra points will be awarded to applicants that apply for funding to plan or implement the consolidation, merger or dissolution of a municipality; share services between school districts and other municipalities; share highway services; consolidate health benefit plans; or develop and implement countywide shared services plans.

Grants will be for a maximum of $200,000 per municipality, with a 10 percent local cost share. No part of the grant shall be used for recurring expenses such as salaries. Awards will be granted only for services that would otherwise be individually provided by each grantee and for which demonstrable financial savings result from sharing, unless for feasibility studies.

The submission deadline is 4 p.m. Dec. 14. For information or to request an application, e-mail hayesj@assembly.state.ny.us or call Hayes' district office at 634-1895.