PROVIDENCE — Governor Carcieri sounded his support Friday for the regionalization of police, fire and public works departments and the creation of a large metropolitan district encompassing Providence and six neighboring communities.

“This action by seven mayors of our cities and towns is a step in the right direction, and I am encouraged by the discussions to find cost savings through consolidating municipal services,” Carcieri said Friday in a news release.

“The time has come to get serious and decide once and for all if we, as elected officials, have the will to come together, break down boundaries, and share our resources,” he said.

Carcieri made his comments in response to recent discussions among leaders from Providence, Cranston, Central Falls, East Providence, Johnston, North Providence and Pawtucket.

After meeting with those leaders last month, Providence Mayor David N. Cicilline has proposed legislation that would enable the creation of three metropolitan departments for police and fire services and public works.

Once they had legislative approval, Cicilline argues that they could begin working with the chiefs of departments and labor leaders to design the new districts.

The mayors and town managers need General Assembly approval for legislation to help them manage their resources in the recession without raising taxes, Carcieri said.

“The solutions are there,” he said, “but we need to have the political will and courage to move past the talking stage to meaningful action.”

Carcieri still needs to review the legislation that Cicilline has drafted, but he strongly commends the action, according to Amy Kempe, spokeswoman for the governor.

Carcieri has called for such initiatives in the past.

He recently proposed a government reform commission to study the feasibility of consolidation and regionalization of services in cities and towns.

The idea, part of his supplemental budget proposal for the fiscal year that ended June 30, was not taken up by the General Assembly. The proposed commission would be empowered to make detailed recommendations to the General Assembly for a mandatory vote.

In March, lawmakers did create a special Senate commission on shared municipal services.

The commission is expected to meet Tuesday and begin exploring ways that cities and towns could pool resources to cut costs and provide relief to taxpayers.

mreynold@projo.com