Privatizing government functions
A town in Georgia outsources bureaucratic functions. And it works:
Does the Sandy Springs approach work? It does for Sandy Springs, says the city manager, John F. McDonough, who points not only to the town’s healthy balance sheet but also to high marks from residents on surveys about quality of life and quality of government services.
Well, when you can be fired, you tend to do a better job. Statist bleats of ‘two Americas’.
June 26th, 2012 at 11:21 am
Two Americas: one with Jobs who get paid to work, and one paid with Taxes who don’t do any work.
June 26th, 2012 at 11:32 am
Practically lived next door to Sandy Springs growing up.
Still not ever considering moving back.
June 26th, 2012 at 12:46 pm
Best quote of the whole article. Followed closely by “Mr. McDonough, the Sandy Springs city manager, says the town has sidestepped such problems. The key, he explains, lay in the fine art of drafting contracts.”
Traditional government contracts won’t work. Contract for what you actually need, and the system will work just fine.
June 26th, 2012 at 12:51 pm
Jake has it right: the full value is in the contract language, and never forget “scope” determines language.
I’ve reached the point where I regard a local government that doesn’t very seriously consider contracting services is not to be trusted. You are absolutely correct, the threat of firing produces productivity.