Combined Services

Municipalites in the Adirondacks serve few residents but increasing costs related to infrasturcture, services and payrolls have resulted in ever greater property tax burdens for residents. In many cases, boundaries no longer reflect population distribution or concentration as they were created during the 19th century. This has resulted in an overlapping of services and wasteful spending which has frustrated local residents. Municipal governments have so far resisted consolidation or other meaningful change, thereby preserving unnecessary payroll expenditures and the status quo. Although residents are looking for meaningful change, it has not been delivered by their local governments. 

The Town of Harrietstown and the Village of Saranac Lake are finding ways to streamline costs by moving the Village Offices to the Town Hall.  Office space in the Town Hall opened up after Franklin County ended their 22 year lease agreement for County and Supreme Court office space after the retirement of Supreme Court Justice Jan H. Pluadore.

 According to the Adirondack Daily Enterprise,  the rent from the Village for the office space will be used to pay for rent of the privately owned parking lot across the street.  This was previously rented by the Village and is an integral part of Main Street,  Saranac Lake.

"Under an agreement announced in late June (2011), the town plans to lease the parking lot from Magro for $1,500 a month. The town will cover the rent using revenue from the village, which is moving its offices to the Harrietstown Town Hall. As part of the deal, the village would be responsible for maintenance, lighting, insurance and parking enforcement in the lot."