Gotta ask exactly why the mayor thinks that city/county consolidation is a good idea. His claim is apparently that it would save money, but when I was on a panel with Jennifer Roberts back in August she stressed that it would allow better decision making. So which is it?
And let’s be clear, it’s far from certain that a merger saves any money at all — combining departments may not reduce headcounts much if at all but typically puts everyone on the higher of the two pay scales. It most certainly will not save enough money to significantly impact the county’s budget for 2011 or avoid school closing.
