Need for Fresno City/County Consolidation of Services

I am a strong proponent of City of Fresno and County of Fresno consolidating services in order to provide more effective services and an efficiency of costs (see my January 27 posting: Fresno Citizens Need to Change County Government). The City of Fresno has been open to the concept. The County of Fresno has shown no interest other dabbling in a small face-saving study of law enforcement cooperation.

While the proof is always in "the doing not the talking," I was pleasantly pleased to see recently where Stanislaus County and several cities in the county are considering consolidating services to avoid duplicating work.

The Modesto Bee reports that two efforts have the most momentum.

One would lead to a joint building department for Modesto and Stanislaus County; the other is aimed at consolidating several fire departments with Modesto's. Modesto and Stanislaus Counties are poised to merge their building inspection divisions. The fire discussion include the Modesto Fire Department, the Salida Fire Protection District, the Stanislaus Consolidated Fire Protection District and the county Office of Emergency Services.

A non-threatening way to consider the issue of consolidation in Fresno County would, I believe, be the appointment of a citizens commission by both the County Board of Supervisors and the Fresno City Council. The commission would then be provided with some resources and sufficient time to consider what may and may not be feasible. Recommendations would then be made to both the County Supervisors and the City's Mayor/Council members for consideration.

The value of consolidating selected services is particularly appropriate at this time of serious unemployment and economic misery. Rather than the typical knee-jerk cutting of services and staff, our elected officials should do something that has a long-term, meaningful impact on the lives of Fresno's citizens.

Coming attractions..

1) My "chauffeur" wins an award, but his "vehicle" needs an upgrade.
2) Schools need a national test: National Assessment of Educational Progress to the rescue.

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