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Effort Seeks to Reduce Costs, Consolidate Offices

Oneida County Executive Joseph A. Griffo today announced that a panel designed to reduce costs by reviewing County Government’s leases for office space has held its first meeting.

"We need to review our leases now so that we can make changes in this budget year where possible," Griffo said. "Oneida County Government owns a significant amount of space in the Utica and Rome downtown core areas. Our goal is to maximize the efficiency of the space we own so that we can minimize the cost of renting space. To achieve my long-term reduction in the costs of operating government, we need to lower our fixed costs of operations. Eliminating leases is a step to accomplishing that goal."

Griffo said the County Office Space Review Committee will examine current leases and assess them both on their cost and their importance for serving the public. "If we determine a lease is necessary to provide a service to the public in a certain location, we will make sure we have the lowest possible cost," said Griffo, who in his Feb. 12 State of the County speech promised a review and reduction of leases to save money while maintaining essential services. "By co-locating as many departments as possible in our existing space, we can achieve long-term cost reductions."

Members of the panel are: Richard Allen, Oneida County Clerk; Jack Williams, Public Works Commissioner; Mark Laramie, Deputy Public Works Commissioner; John Kent, Planning Director; County Legislator David Wood, R-Rome; and Legislative Minority Leader Harry Hertline, D-Utica.

Griffo noted that in recent years, County Government has upgraded Union Station, the County Office Building and the former Central Firehouse on Elizabeth Street in Downtown Utica while also consolidating many Rome offices into one building at 301 West Dominick Street. "Taxpayers have invested a tremendous amount of money in these buildings," Griffo said. "We need to maximize the return on that investment."