It is a difficult task to get local government entities to work together, but we must work together in order to be competitive. School Boards and City Governments from all the cities nearby should work together as much as they can.

An important question: How might you account for individual needs in this larger push?

Answer: By putting people in charge of the choices. Create a task force to look at the issue. After a few initial services are decided upon the group should meet again every few years to find more areas of overlap as technology and other factors make more sharing possible.

Some examples:

SHARING OF COMPUTER ADMINISTRATION (network administrator) between the municipality and the school board-- share the cost of the contract. Savings in the $60,000 to $70,000 range depending on the size of the municipality. Formation of an on-going committee to explore potential cost-savings by implementing other shared service arrangements between the municipality and the school board.

CONTRACT WITH COUNTY ROAD DEPARTMENT for municipal road repairs, saving significant costs associated with bidding and private contractor oversight.

FORM MAYOR’S TASK FORCES on: (1) Municipal Service Efficiencies and (2) Community Service Supports.

SHARED SERVICES AGREEMENT FOR FIELD MAINTENANCE and other recreation areas between School Districts and Municipalities.

REGIONAL PURCHASING CO-OP for goods and services such as fuel, paper, and other materials. (we could do this with Grand Forks and Fargo as well as other ND cities

SHARED SERVICES AGREEMENT FOR IT SERVICES between school districts and municipalities.

BEFORE/AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS and Summer Programs shared between municipalities and school districts

BUS TRANSPORTATION shared among neighboring school districts

PAVING AND SNOW REMOVAL shared among neighboring towns, school districts, and/or the County