The Village of Fort Johnson has a long history of good governance, responsiveness to constituents, and delivery of quality services. The demands of operating and administering small Villages have become increasingly complex in recent years, presenting operational challenges for small communities across New York State and straining the affordability for property taxpayers. Further complicating matters, residents’ lives have become busier than ever, so that in many small communities it is increasingly challenging to recruit candidates for elected positions and staff.

The Village of Fort Johnson has operated with a lean central administration dependent on a single part-time employee. The Village also employs two staff to deliver its highway, parks, and sewer services.  This lean staffing structure presents challenges related to  available backup and continuity of services.  It is also difficult for small governments to take advantage of economies of scale and cost saving strategies that can produce property tax savings. 

The Village Board of Trustees determined that now is the right time to explore the pros and cons of dissolution to determine if there are opportunities to create increased long-term stability in governance and operations; improve services; improve efficiency and effectiveness; and produce property tax savings. The Proposed Dissolution Plan will provide an assessment of the impact of a potential dissolution on governance, service, service delivery, and cost to taxpayers.