Local agencies throughout California are employing joint-use and shared services agreements as a tool to stretch taxpayer resources as far as possible in service to shared constituents. These approaches can serve as helpful, creative ways to continue providing local services while reducing operation and maintenance costs

“Joint use” refers to two or more entities sharing indoor and outdoor spaces like school facilities, civic centers and other kinds of public facilities. The concept is simple: Multiple organizations share a resource to keep costs down and more broadly benefit the community.