State Rep. Auden Grogins (D-Bridgeport)has been named by House Speaker Christopher G. Donovan (D-Meriden) and House Majority Leader Denise Merrill (D-Mansfield) Vice-Chair of the State Grants to Municipalities and Mandate Relief sub-committee of a new a commission that will seek to identify opportunities for more regional collaborations designed to create efficiencies and save money for municipalities.

The Blue Ribbon Commission on Municipal Opportunities and Regional Efficiencies (MORE) began its work this week with the goal of recommending legislation during the 2010 session.

“Regionalism is critical to encourage cities and towns to work together to decrease costs and promote economic growth. That will be a key to real property tax reform,” Rep. Grogins said. “Finding efficiencies and new ways of doing business through regional cooperation will jumpstart that process. I am proud to participate in a leadership role in this important initiative, and I look forward to the positive change that our efforts will generate.”

The sub-committee is charged with, among other things, identifying areas for mandate relief, determining the costs and cost effectiveness associated with identified mandates and evaluating alternatives.

The MORE Commission is comprised of 45 Democratic members of the House of Representatives and representatives of municipalities, regional organizations, education, business, unions and non-profits.

The Commission will look at a wide spectrum of issues and opportunities facing municipalities: multi-town collaboratives, Board of Education functions, regionally-based organizations, collective bargaining, mandates, revenue sources, health care, and state grants. In each of these areas, commission subcommittees will investigate costs, benefits, resources, legal obstacles and opportunities, potential savings, consolidation, and results-based accountability (RBA) methods for tracking performance.

Rep. Grogins represents the 129th district and serves on the Education, Government Administration and Elections, and Public Health Committees.

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