CORTLAND, NY (607NewsNow) – Cortland County is receiving over $800,000 from the state.

On October 20, the New York Department of State announced that Cortland County is receiving matching funds for two 2023 projects.

The match comes through New York’s County-Wide Shared Services Initiative, which incentivizes local governments that work together to lower costs and increase efficiency. The initiative provides a one-time state match of county and local government taxpayer savings that were achieved in the first year of project implementation.

“Cortland County has an eye on the residents’ future tax savings by taking advantage of the Department of State’s incentives for shared services and efficiencies,” said Secretary of State Walter Mosley. “Local governments working together to lower costs is a surefire way to protect taxpayers and ensure long-term municipal stability.”

In one 2023 project, Cortland County joined the NYS Pharmacy Purchasing Coalition through an inter-municipal agreement with Capital Region BOCES. It allowed the county to join a broader network of public sector employers that helped with consistency in benefit management and strengthened health plan stability for employees and retirees. It resulted in a state match of $817,249.86.

In the second project, the county led efforts to consolidate Geographic Information Services (GIS) in Cortland, Cortlandville, Cincinnatus, Freetown, Preble, Solon, and the Village of Marathon. The county provides GIS services to help municipalities with mapping that supports planning, zoning, public safety, and infrastructure management. According to the Department of State, this service provides municipalities with data that informs better decision-making. It resulted in a state match of $17,150.

“On behalf of the Cortland County Legislature, I want to thank the Department of State for recognizing and supporting our shared services initiatives,” said Legislative Chair Kevin Fitch. “This funding strengthens the county’s ongoing commitment to partnership with our municipalities. Through these collaborations, Cortland County continues to reduce costs, improve efficiency, and enhance the quality of services provided to our residents. When our towns, villages, and the county work together to make services more efficient, it ultimately benefits all Cortland County taxpayers.”

You can learn more about the NYS County-Wide Shared Services Initiative here.