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Brian...NY has a year-old consolidation law that is being fought tooth-and- by all the local authorities because it would remove salaries, patronage and contracts. In Great Neck, the Park District with 3 $30,000 elected commissioners and a $132,000 superintendent, hands out fliers at concerts, The 9 Villages, all but with one with a paid elected mayor, have done the same. The Village of Great Neck mayor, partner in a Wall St. law firm, just doubled his salary. Consolidation will require heroic action --- or maybe Andrew Cuomo to have any chance of success.

eli the caller doesn't know sh*% about good places to eat in lakewood, huh?

Lakewood? Isn't that where the Real Housewives of NJ are from?

Hanging with the Manazos, Brian?

California is in no way a good model for any aspect of governance. This is largely due to that state's reliance on the referendum/ballot initiative system. From Prop 13, which eviscerated state revenue by slashing property taxes with an insane gusto, on down through the recent spate of initiatives, California voters have supported VAST reductions in taxation and equally VAST increases in spending (e.g. on high speed trains, etc) every single time. The ballot system in California should be considered a good example of nothing.

Why not pool resources between multiple municipalities to cut costs? DPW and maintenance equipment can be shared, garbage contracts can be renegotiated, etc.

I'm ready to look for work outside of the region. $18k in property taxes, salary freezes, and cheaper houses in other terrific cities.