Five projects are approved for funding by UB's municipal-school district collaborations program

"We are very encouraged by the response to this initiative," said John Sheffer, UB interim vice president for public service and urban affairs. "We received a wide breadth of projects, 11 in all, aimed at improved efficiency and property-tax stabilization."

The Municipal-School District Collaboration Program is a part of UB's Governance Project, which is under the direction of the Office of Public Service and Urban Affairs. The 15 school districts in the 60th State Senate District (northern Erie County and all of Genesee County) were eligible to apply in cooperation with another school district or a municipality. Maximum award available for a project was $20,000.

"This program itself is a collaboration between the university and the Senate Local Government Committee," Sheffer said. "The chair of the committee, Sen. Mary Lou Rath, has been exceptionally supportive of the entire effort and the focus that we have in this program on tax stabilization and demonstrable outcomes."

"This is a pilot effort which helps to test possible efficiencies and collaborations using the school districts and municipalities in the 60h Senate District," Rath said.

The projects receiving funding are:

· Kenmore-Tonawanda Union Free School District and Town of Tonawanda: $19,661 for expanding the capacity of the town's compressed natural-gas fueling station.

· Tonawanda City School District and City of Tonawanda: $20,000 for school/city partnership to enhance service delivery.

· Clarence Central School District, Town of Clarence and Clarence Fire Companies: $20,000 for development of a shared-fuel management system.

· LeRoy Central School District and Town of LeRoy: $20,000 for development of shared school/community recreational facilities.

· Byron-Bergen Central School District and Village of Bergen: $16,200 for development of shared municipal electric service.