Blue Ribbon Commission releasing final report

HURON TWP. — A local commission will share its ideas for improving government operations at a public forum next week. After more than a year of research, collaboration and public discussion, the Erie County Blue Ribbon Commission will present its final report — which it refers to as a white paper — on potential government cost-saving strategies. A forum takes place at 5:30 p.m. Monday at the Mylander Center at BGSU Firelands, 1 University Drive, Huron. The commission, comprised of local appointees from elected offices and those in the business community, was formed last year. Its mission: to explore how county government agencies might cooperate more efficiently and reduce the financial burden on taxpayers. "With property taxes becoming a problem for so many seniors and with the sheer amount of tax money collected in Erie County, the Blue Ribbon Commission's release of its white paper should be a step toward our community seeing ways to save public dollars," Blue Ribbon commission co-chair Jeff Krabill said. The commission's "work over the past six months has touched on most every facet of public governance in Erie County, so the public is encouraged to attend," said Krabill, who's also a Sandusky city commissioner. "Once published, it will be the public who decides whether the recommendations get implemented." Mike Parker, another commission member who also serves as an Oxford Township trustee, also offered some insight. "The sweeping review of services and recommendations for cost reductions and cooperation among public entities has the potential for significant reduction in costs to residents and taxpayers," Parker said. "Many residents and officials provided input that resulted in the recommendations and all are stakeholders in the final product and encouraged to attend." While the group holds no formal authority, its recommendations aim to guide local leaders toward more fiscally responsible practices. Throughout its work, the commission has tackled a range of issues, including: • Tax reduction possibilities — The commission's early discussions focused on whether local taxes could be lowered through smarter budgeting and streamlined services. • Operational efficiency — In its initial meetings, the group emphasized the importance of identifying redundancies and inefficiencies across county departments • Collaboration among school districts — One of the commission's more recent efforts explored how local school districts might share resources or services to reduce costs without compromising education quality. Monday's forum will feature presentations from individual commission members, each highlighting specific findings and proposals. The public is encouraged to attend, ask questions and engage in the discussion, commission members said.