Governing Magazine recently published the article "Shared Services: Where the Real Potential for Local Government Exists".  Whether through a public/private partnership, a public/public partnership or some other type of service-oriented relationship, these opportunities can be very good ways to deliver services in a challenging economic environment.  They can also help to improve service delivery and in many cases are just the right thing to do. 

The topic of shared/collaborative service delivery will be the next research topic for the /ASU/ICMA research partnership and will focus on identifying those best and leading practices that can make the consideration to move to this  type of service delivery easier for local governments.    This research will be underwritten by CH2M HILL and will begin this summer and be available to local governments in 2014.

An interesting commentary on this topic was recently published by the Center for Management Strategies' leading practice service providers, the Center for Priority Based Budgeting, through its blog site.  CPBB provides some good examples of the use of partnerships and discusses the ways that local governments can help to decide where partnerships would be a good option.  You can find their blog here. 

As young children, we all learned the importance of sharing.  As local government managers, it is time we took a new look at this very viable service option.  Stay tuned for more!