WASHINGTON, Dec. 4, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- ICMA, the International City/County Management Association, welcomes Expense Reduction Analysts (ERA), a leading global advisory firm and cost-reduction consultancy, as an ICMA Strategic Partner.

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With local governments operating under burdensome fiscal constraints, cost-reduction strategies are of utmost importance. ICMA's partnership with ERA is designed to benefit local government managers as they strive to meet the needs of their communities in times of financial stress.

The ICMA Strategic Partner Program was created in 1996 as an access point for private sector participation in ICMA programs and activities. Through the program, firms are afforded opportunities to assist professional local government managers and their jurisdictions by showcasing leading practice solutions and providing thought leadership.

ERA works with organizations to reduce overhead and administrative expenses through pricing and procurement reviews and contract renegotiation services, and the firm reports an average savings of nearly 20 percent for its clients. Because ERA is compensated on a shared-savings basis, local governments do not incur any upfront fees for ERA services.

According to Philip Gross, ERA Managing Director, "We look forward to bringing our 20 years of expense reduction expertise to local government organizations, including cities and other municipalities, counties, schools and other local government entities, such as water and sewer authorities.  We could find no better partner than the ICMA to help us leverage our expertise for the benefit of our local communities."

"ICMA is excited about the potential value of working with ERA to bring leading practices and valuable services to our members and local governments," adds ICMA Executive Director Robert J. O'Neill, Jr. "With ERA's nearly 700 experts in more than 30 countries, we see this as a "win-win" for jurisdictions everywhere that are struggling to meet the challenges of the current fiscal crisis while thinking creatively about how they allocate precious resources."

About ICMA 
ICMA, the International City/County Management Association, advances professional local government worldwide. Our mission is to create excellence in local governance by developing and advancing professional management to create sustainable communities that improve lives worldwide. ICMA provides member support; publications; data and information; peer and results-oriented assistance; and training and professional development to nearly 9,000 city, town, and county experts and other individuals and organizations throughout the world.  The management decisions made by ICMA's members affect millions of individuals living in thousands of communities, from small villages and towns to large metropolitan areas. 

About Expense Reduction Analysts 
Expense Reduction Analysts is an international consultancy that specializes in cost reduction strategies for businesses and other types of organizations. ERA consultants help their clients save money without compromising service levels or quality. With these savings, clients are able to preserve headcount, invest in their business or entity, or simply improve their balance sheet. ERA works across more than 30 expense categories including food service, janitorial supplies and services, telecommunications (voice and data), fleet management, insurance, office supplies, waste management, document storage and others. To learn more about Expense Reduction Analysts, please contact Philip J. Gross, Managing Director, Expense Reduction Analysts, pgross@expensereduction.com. 

SOURCE ICMA