For Towns and Villages
Under a new state law developed by Attorney General Andrew Cuomo towns and villages and special districts can take it upon themselves to dissolve or consolidate. Below you will find simple instructions on what towns and villages need to do and how the process works.
- Download a flowchart of a town or village initiated consolidation or dissolution
I. Develop a Plan
If separate towns and villages or special districts want to consolidate services or dissolve to save taxpayers’ money, the governmental entitied must first develop a joint consolidation or dissolution agreement, and then they must pass a resolution endorsing it.
Upon passage of the resolutions, the plan must be published and public hearings must be held. After these steps have been taken, the governing bodies must then approve a final version of the joint consolidation or dissolution agreement. If a special district is involved, then the final plan goes into effect. If the plan includes a town or village a referendum is held.
II. Referendum
Once a plan has been agreed upon by the appropriate governing body or bodies, a notice of referendum must be issued and a referendum will then be held. If it is approved by the voters, then the consolidation or dissolution becomes effective. If it is voted down, there is a mandatory four-year moratorium before it can be tried again.
- What if two or more towns are trying to consolidate services, and they do not all pass the referendum?
In order for the consolidation to become effective, the referendum must pass in each town or village. Failure to pass in even one community means the referendum fails and the mandatory four-year moratorium would begin.