The Butler County Council of Governments has received the Governor’s Award for Local Government Excellence.

The Butler COG, in conjunction with the Lawrence County and Beaver County COGs, were recognized for their intergovernmental cooperation in developing a health care initiative for municipalities.

The combined first year savings for the 41 participating municipalities in the COG Care program was $1.1 million.

The Butler COG initiated the program, then sought the participation of its neighboring counterparts to get better rates for municipal employee health insurance.

The state on Tuesday announced the award winners.

Jeff Smith, executive director of the Butler COG, said it was an honor to accept the award on behalf of the memberships of the three COGs.

“It was the finest example of cooperation in government that I have ever seen or been a part of,” Smith said.

He said the service, which is in its second year, is now used by 60 municipalities in 15 Western Pennsylvania COGs, saving those boroughs and townships an estimated $2.2 million.

The awards are presented annually by the Governor’s Center for Local Government Services, an office in the Department of Community and Economic Development that assists the state’s 2,562 local governments.