FISHKILL- Over 100 Pattern for Progress members gathered at the Fishkill Holiday Inn Friday to hear panelists talk about a topic much discussed over the past few years in New York State – consolidation of government services and school districts.

Panelists included John Clarkson, policy analyst for the state Office of the Comptroller; Diana Gurieva, executive vice president of the Dyson Foundation; Margaret Moree, director of Federal Affairs for the Business Council of New York; and Arthur Weintraub, healthcare consultant and former member of the Berger Commission.

Though the forum was created to discuss not-for-profits and healthcare, much of the attention was drawn by members in the audience to school district funding and government spending of social programs.

Proponents of government and school district consolidation have traditionally viewed the move as a monetary one, while opponents argue that consolidation will decrease services. The argument seems to remain the same, but Pattern President Jonathan Drapkin hopes a balance can be stricken to benefit everyone.

“The purpose of this forum is to get more dialogue going on not only consolidation, but also collaboration,” he said. “The people in this room all have similar characteristics. We all have a sense of hope, passion, willingness to work, and we never quit. We have to capitalize on this.”

Drapkin noted that municipalities in Dutchess County were once consolidated, and that sometimes it takes a while for the move to happen. “It took Beacon several votes and 35 years to go from a town and a village into a city,” shouted someone from the crowd.

Drapkin followed with “sometimes we have to be patient, and that is exactly what this is going to take, a lot of patience.”

When asked if the state was looking into a Berger Commission of sorts for school district funding or government consolidation, Clarkson said, “the state comptroller’s office is open to any municipality who would like to study consolidation or collaboration.”