Shared Services

Governments that share services have lower per capita expenses than those that do not and this effect is most pronounced in suburban communities. There are many examples of service sharing in the region; it has been embraced by both political parties as a fiscally responsible method of service delivery. While there are differing definitions, DVRPC defines shared services as those provided by or received by more than one municipality.

Sharing municipal services allows local governments to decrease both the cost and complexity, while providing a higher level of service overall. Properly planned and implemented shared services provide benefits in at least one of six distinct areas:

Provision of new service where none previously existed
Direct cost savings for existing services
Avoidance of future costs through planning and efficiencies
Elimination of service duplication
Provision of additional services within a given budget
Increased aggressiveness and competition for outside funding

For a detailed discussion on shared services in the region, including when to share services, which types of services are best shared, conducting feasibility studies, and what other municipalities are doing, please download MIT #25: Implementing Shared Services.

To view presentations from DVRPC's forum, Implementing Shared Services: Best Practices and Case Studies, use the following links:

Regulatory Framework and Legal Issues Around Shared Services in PA and NJ [1.6 MB pdf] (Joanne Walker, Esquire)
Gloucester County Case Study [0.1 MB pdf] (Chad Bruner, County Administrator and Heather Simmons, Freeholder)
Bucks County Consortium Case Study [1.2 MB pdf] (Stephanie Teoli, Middletown Township Manager)
Shared Services Best Practices: Selecting the Right Strategy for Your Community [0.4 MB pdf] (John C. Fry, Program Director, Government Solutions, Revelstone)

Shared Services in New Jersey

For assistance, NJ municipalities should contact their county shared services coordinator or one of the following offices.

Municipalities interested in learning more about shared services across NJ can consult:

Feasibility Studies and Agreements Library (NJ DCA)

Shared Services in Pennsylvania

For assistance, PA municipalities should contact their county planning department, local council of governments, state office, or association listed below.