KINGSTON – Ulster County is going to use a $260,000 state grant to conduct a study of potential savings from shared municipal services.

A total of 13 municipalities are participating in the program, said County Executive Michael Hein.

“The way I have gone into this very simple; I am open to whatever we can do to protect property tax papers,” he said. “I am committed to allowing this study to take place and providing whatever assistance we can to make it effective. The best this is in the end there is also an implementation plan that insures that this doesn’t end up as a simple study on a shelf.”

Pattern for Progress will conduct the study with a team of four experts; the project will be completed in 10 months.

“The bottom line is that all levels of government must work more closely to streamline services while always recognizing that we all serve the same taxpayers,” said Pattern President Jonathan Drapkin.