Ted Long Calls for Placerville & SLT to be Absorbed by County Gov

Noting that the two cities' budgets total more than $50 million, the 2011-12 grand jury asserts, "(t)here would be a substantial cost savings with consolidation of city and county services."

However, the grand jury did not do analysis to see whether any specific efficiencies could be achieved, and covered the matter in just three pages.

"We didn't get that far," said Ted Long, jury foreman. "It just seems common sense."

Long, a former South Lake Tahoe councilman and member of the Local Agency Formation Commission, said resistance is entrenched.

"They don't even want to talk about it," he said.

However, Placerville Mayor Mark Acuna said his city has already done the analysis for some services.

The city examined whether to cede law enforcement to the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office, finding it was "either a wash or more expensive," Acuna said. "In neither instance could the county sheriff provide a more economical ...

Read more here: http://www.modbee.com/2012/07/01/2265146/jury-calls-for-merging-services.html

Related Story: Ted Long at center of controversy
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