New York Department of State Announces Opening of $8 Million Local Government Efficiency Program

 

Captioned "Competitive Grant Opportunity Incentivizes Municipalities Aiming to Reduce Costs and Lower Tax Burden", on December 8, 2025, The New York Department of State announced that its popular Local Government Efficiency Grant (LGEG) program is again available to municipalities with innovative ideas for supporting a more affordable New York. Applicants may apply for funding to streamline government operations and services which reduce current or future costs, resulting in savings for local property taxpayers. The $8 million initiative incentivizes two or more local governments to team up to apply to plan for or implement shared services, consolidations, and dissolutions. “Incentivizing municipalities to find new efficiencies is a great way to create more affordable communities,” said Secretary of State Walter T. Mosley. “The Local Government Efficiency program has shown the capacity to offer great economic returns for localities and expanding it will bring even more savings to New Yorkers.” Through the LGEG, DOS is also aiming to assist local governments to address significant current and emerging challenges. In this current funding round, Priority Points will be given to: Regional Projects; Regional or Local Projects being implemented as part of a previous LGE planning grant or that was included in a Countywide Shared Services Initiative (CWSSI) plan; or Regional or Local Projects that aim to address: Information Technology Services (ITS), including Cybersecurity; Emergency Services; Countywide or Multi-County Code Enforcement or Municipal Planning; Water and/or Wastewater Management Systems; or Clean Energy Initiatives. Some Recent Winning Communities Include: Town of Hunter partnering with Greene County, the Villages of Hunter and Tannersville, and the Hunter-Tannersville Central School District: Mountaintop Community and Municipal Services Center - $1,250,000 Town of Carmel partnering with the Bedford, Bronxville, Eastchester, Mamaroneck, and Ossining Police Departments: Shared Police Communications Software - $1,200,000 Orleans County: Orleans County EMS Study $52,859 Tompkins County: Rapid Medical Response Team pilot program - $629,779 Brockport Fire District partnering with the Bergen and Churchville Fire Departments, and the Murray Joint and Hamlin-Morton-Walker Fire Districts: Mutual Aid College Student Bunk-In Program: $490,500 The LGEG Request for Applications (RFA) and additional information may be found on the DOS website at: dos.ny.gov/needtopost. RFAs must be submitted by Wednesday, February 4, 2026 at 4 pm.