One obstacle to collaboration is the learning curve for finding exactly how to accomplish efficiencies. Academic institutions don't are just starting to provide help, the state and county can only do so much. Here's a news release from Green showing how they shared How-To information with Warren:

City of Green Hosts City Officials from Warren at Green’s
Central Administration Building

Here's a Plan Dealer story  with the headline: "Cuyahoga County Executive Ed FitzGerald asks mayors to sign anti-poaching agreement." Only one city has signed on so far and many reservations are expressed. Is this something Summit County's Russ Pry should consider? Would businesses be hurt by this deal? Would taxpayers be helped by fewer sweet deals?

Here is a copy of proposed legislation to loosen requirements on mutual aid agreements. The most significant changes, according to sponsor John Patrick Carney, D-Columbus, is to add to groups that can join an agreement (universities, private ambulance companies, etc.) and let emergency crews take joint action without first getting approval from political leaders like mayors, township trustees, etc.

Obviously, efficiency isn't always about saving money. Sometimes it is to improve services. Here's one aimed at making things go more smoothly during emergencies:

State
Rep. Carney Introduces Bill to Expand Shared Services in
Emergencies
Legislation
would make government cooperation easier, response times faster