"We have expensive local governments - not because of exorbitant spending by town leaders - it's something structural," he said. "It's the structure of how we govern ourselves. It's inefficient. I think there is a better way to do things."

These individual communities also have several advantages including a sense of community that drives services such as volunteerism, both of which appeal to residents, he said.

"The biggest challenge is finding a way to remedy the cost ineffectiveness without throwing out the baby with the bath water," he said. "There is a way and that way is through the voluntary - but with financial incentives - coming together of several groups of communities to form a new unit of local government."

Municipal services districts is what Gov. John Baldacci is calling these potential regional governments, according to Richert. He said these new districts would be the authority when dealing with budgets, property tax rates and planning and development along with other municipal duties.

"I think doing that we would save up to $100 million in municipal costs without losing the essence of the Maine town," he said.

Community leaders from all over Penobscot County gathered at Bangor Auditorium  to discuss regional partnerships at the conference. Participants concentrated on four general themes - housing, transportation, public safety and tourism.

Brewer Fire Chief Richard Bronson said there are several models that should be used as examples when trying to form regional partnerships. These include school districts, hospital districts, water districts and regional dispatch services.

He added that several consequences, especially the fact that money probably would not be saved the first year, also needs to be considered before regional partnerships are formed.

"It's going to take a lot of will and determination, without stepping on people's toes, to overcome municipal boundaries to actually create municipal partnerships," Bronson said. "We'll only get the big benefit if we do it and do it well."

During the conference, the success of several regional partnerships were recognized.

Accolades were given to the Piscataquis County Economic Development Council for its work increasing economic development in the region and to the regional Municipal Review Committee for its work to keep the cost of disposing waste low in dealing Penobscot Energy Recovery Co.
"This content originally appeared as a copyrighted article in the Saturday, January 10, 2004 edition of the Bangor Daily NEWS and is used here with permission."