Section 77 County Government Working Group

(a) There shall be a working group on the future of county government consisting of the following 9 members: the senior deputy commissioner of the division of local services in the department of revenue, or a designee, who shall serve as chair; 1 member appointed by the Secretary of Administration and Finance; 1 member appointed by the Massachusetts Association of County Commissioners; 1 member appointed by the Massachusetts Municipal Association; 1 member appointed by the Executive Office of Education; 1 member appointed by the Secretary of the Commonwealth; 1 member of the senate appointed by the senate president who represents a district that includes a remaining county, 1 member of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker who represents a district that includes a remaining county; and 1 member appointed by the Public Employee Retirement Administration Commission (PERAC). No member shall be an elected official and not more than 2 members shall be employees of a county government.

(b) The working group shall review the budgets and operations of the remaining counties in Massachusetts and assess the counties' longer-term viability and efficiency. The working group shall consider whether there is a minimum set of responsibilities below which a county government is not likely to be an efficient means for delivery of services to residents, and shall evaluate the extent to which cities and towns elect to employ the regional services and facilities of existing counties. The working group shall assess the risk that counties may strand liabilities where their expenses over time are projected to exceed revenue. The working group shall also assess whether counties with narrowly defined responsibilities may draw federal funding away from residents in other parts of the state. The working group shall make recommendations that may include an assessment of the advisability of abolishing one or more counties whose responsibilities can be absorbed by other state, local or regional entities. If the working group recommends abolition of one or more counties, the working group shall also recommend appropriate next steps.

(c) The recommendations shall be submitted to the executive office for administration and finance, the house and senate committees on ways and means, and the chairs of the joint committee on municipalities and regional government not later than November 1, 2021.

This section would establish a working group to study and report on the future of county government.