LAKEWOOD - If the vote to dissolve Lakewood is passed today, how would village services continue?
The answer, most likely, is through special districts.
Special districts are formed to receive a select service that the government does not include in its budget. "If the whole town is doing it, it is part of the general budget," said Randy Holcomb, Busti assessor. "When only certain areas use certain services, then it falls into special districts."
If Lakewood was dissolved, its fire, garbage, street lighting, water and, possibly, police services could be provided through creating special districts.
PAYING FOR SERVICES
Holcomb said it would be different for each district, with the town board deciding whether through a usage fee or by property assessment. Holcomb said there are precedents to determine how services would be paid. Plus, he said it is just common sense. For example, garbage would be paid for through a usage fee. One residence would pay one usage fee for garbage. However, an apartment that has many residences would pay a usage for each apartment.
Holcomb said street lighting would most likely be charged through assessment. A water district for the maintenance of lines would also be paid for through assessment, while the usage fee would be charged by the BPU, which provides the water.
Holcomb said one of the main concerns for residents in the village would be continuing the fire department. He said a fire district would definitely be created for the village, just like in the town. However, he said there is some conflicting information he has heard about the creation of a police district. He said he has heard a police district could be created between the village and the town, which would be similar to how the services is provided and paid for now.
He also has heard that a special district could not be created for the police department, which then would become part of the town's budget. Town Board officials have said that if the village is dissolved, they plan to continue police services.
STEPS NECESSARY
First, the district would have to be created and legally defined through boundaries. Secondly, public hearings would be held so residence can either be for or against the formation of the district. Third, a budget would be created for each district. Last, assessments and usage fees would be determine to know where the money would be coming from for the district.
Is the process long?
Holcomb said he didn't know the exact time frame it would take to create the average district.
''To me, it is a bit of a long process,'' he said. ''In my opinion, it would take a least a year or a year and half.''
Is it expensive to create a special district?
Holcomb said he couldn't put a dollar figure on how much it would cost to form each special district. However, he said with the legalities necessary to form each district, lawyers would be involved.
"The legal fees would be where the costs come from," he said.
After the special district is created, the Town Board would be in control of each. Of course, though, town officials would most likely do what the citizens of the district want or they might be out of a job next election.