When a state commission recently recommended sweeping changes to control the costs of local governments, many knew the document would stir debate.

Nowhere were clashing views more evident than at an Assembly hearing Friday in downtown Buffalo.

Reformers said a “perfect storm” is brewing that will require an overhaul of overlapping and inefficient local governments. They touted the advantages of merging municipalities or — at the very least — consolidating some services.

But other speakers attacked some recommendations by the State Commission on Local Government Efficiency and Competitiveness.

A town tax collector criticized a push for counties to take over all tax collections.

Manpower-challenged Erie County is ill-equipped to deliver the kind of service that constituents receive from their local tax offices, said Diana Cafferty, Evans tax receiver.

The Firemen’s Association of the State of New York challenged the commission’s contention that centralizing fire protection and emergency medical services under counties would improve services and efficiency. Fire districts served by volunteers save taxpayers billions of dollars, they argued.

And a union spokeswoman voiced opposition to a plan that would create a new tier for future state employees, a move that probably would force them to pay more toward their pensions and receive smaller retirement checks.

“You’re coming down again on the middle class,” said Courtney Brunelle, political action coordinator for the Civil Service Employees Association. “You’re looking at a group of people who are making $30,000 or $40,000 a year.”

Others stressed the urgency of shrinking governmental costs. Former Deputy Erie County Executive Bruce L. Fisher, one the region’s most vocal proponents of government consolidation, made his case before the Assembly panel.

Erie County Comptroller Mark C. Poloncarz voiced doubts that local municipalities in the county ever will consolidate, but he said some services can be merged to save money and improve efficiencies. He stumped for a plan he unveiled in March to consolidate property assessment functions within a county-wide division.

Poloncarz insisted the change could slash the costs of assessing properties in half. While some localities have expressed interest, Poloncarz conceded that it hasn’t been warmly received in other circles.

“The assessors are up in arms, and some elected officials have criticized me for issuing this report and have told me to keep my nose out of their business,” he said.

The commission’s findings — commonly known as the Lundine Report, after former Lt.Gov. Stan Lundine, the panel’s chairman — include recommendations ranging from making municipal mergers easier to creating regional, instead of county-funded, jails.

Presiding over the hearing, Assemblyman Sam Hoyt, D-Buffalo, said that while he may not agree with all 73 recommendations, major reforms clearly must be undertaken.

“We absolutely need to change the way we’re doing business here in New York State,” Hoyt said.

bmeyer@buffnews.com

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