Governor Snyder makes another effort to save the state money

Posted: 03.21.2011 at 5:18 PM

MARQUETTE -- In another effort to save money, Governor Rick Snyder has announced community development initiatives and reforms for local government.

Governor Snyder says he wants to eliminate barriers to regional cooperation to help Michigan communities preserve government services.

First, Snyder wants municipalities to become transparent. They should make financial information available to citizens in a more readable format, like his dashboard website. Second, these communities should consolidate services, resulting in taxpayer savings, and third, city employees should receive adequate compensation.

All of these changes are already in place in some communities, like Marquette.

"Financially, we've had our challenges, but we certainly haven't had the challenges that some other units of government in Michigan have had, but Marquette's got good staff," said Marquette City Commissioner Robert Niemi. "We've got a good set of employees, and I think we're positioned well. I know the staff has already been talking to other units of government, looking at areas we can cooperate."

Commissioner Niemi adds that details still need to be worked out.