House, Senate endorse regionalization grant program

The fiscal 2012 state budget bills approved by the House and the Senate both include funding for a new Regionalization Efficiency and Grant Program.

The budget bill filed by Gov. Deval Patrick in January included $9.7 million for the multi-year competitive grant program, which is intended to help communities get regional programs off the ground.

The money would be used to provide financial support for one-time or transitional costs related to regionalization and other efficiency initiatives. The grants would help groups of municipalities enter into formal, long-term agreements to share resources and coordinate activities to more efficiently serve residents. Communities would also be able to apply individually for money to enhance the quality of services and reduce costs.

The governor also proposed $300,000 for the development of a program to enhance local government performance management, accountability, and transparency. The goal would be to create a uniform performance management tool that could be used by communities across the state. The program would also facilitate the sharing of best practices among communities.

The House budget included $9.7 million for both of these initiatives, with $2 million earmarked for regional planning agencies and an unspecified dollar amount allowed for performance management.

The Senate included $8 million for these initiatives in the budget bill it adopted on May 26.