Consensus — the commission on local government modernization – is helping to shape a vision for more effective and efficient local governance in Onondaga County. Through Consensus, our community is taking a leadership role in New York and defining for ourselves how we want to be organized and governed locally. With data driven solutions, our government structures, designed in the 18th century, can be modernized to meet the needs of the 21st century, with local resources focused equitably and effectively to help our economy and protect our community assets. We’re building Consensus to find these solutions together.

Consensus is led by three distinguished co-chairs: Neil Murphy, who most recently served as president of SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry; Catherine Richardson a retired attorney with the firm Bond, Schoeneck & King, PLLC; and former US Congressman James Walsh.

Sixteen community and business leaders have joined the three co-chairs to review:

• The number and types of local government in Onondaga County and the costs associated with those governments.
• The nature and extent of services delivered by various types of local governments.
• Opportunities and barriers to restructuring local government functions and services and the extent to which more efficient practices can improve the performance of local government and the delivery of public services.

Commission members will also make recommendations relative to:

• Strengthening and streamlining the structure and operations of local governments.
• Improving the effectiveness and reducing the costs of local government operations and services.
• Facilitating the merger, consolidation and partnering in the delivery of services by and between local governments.