A plan for governments in Southwest Michigan to collaborate and share services is moving forward. Kalamazoo County Commissioners endorsed the plan Tuesday night. Kalamazoo City Commissioners and the Portage City Council previously gave their approval. The report was written by the Kalamazoo City Manager Ken Collard Portage City Manager Maurice Evans and Kalamazoo County Administrator Peter Battani.

Battani says although consolidation of services has long been a topic of discussion in Southwest Michigan, he says economic reality had made it more important now.

Battani says savings from consolidation will be relatively small in the short-term. But he says long-term construction and other costs will be held down in local governments can share services.

Battani says specifics, including a time table, still have to be worked out.