Privatization
Wikipedia:
Privatization, also spelled privatisation, may have several meanings. Primarily, it is the process of transferring ownership of a business, enterprise, agency, public service or public property from the public sector (a government) to the private sector, either to a business that operates for a profit or to a non-profit organization. It may also mean government outsourcing of services or functions to private firms, e.g. revenue collection, law enforcement, and prison management. (link to source)
Statistical Definition:
Definition: Privatisation refers to transfer of ownership and control of government or state assets, firms and operations to private investors.
Context: This transfer takes the form of issue and sale or outright distribution of shares to the general public. Broadly used, the term privatization includes other policies such as "contracting out" that is, the process by which activities, while publicly organized and financed, are carried out by private sector companies, e.g., street cleaning, garbage collection, housing, education. (link to source)
What about Chico?
CHICO: City may start contracting out essential services
07/18/2013
With fewer staff and a continued effort to cut costs, the city of Chico is pursuing options to contract out services and operations.
Nearly all the city government does is up for consideration. City Manager Brian Nakamura said utilizing public-private partnerships is a way to reduce expenses while preserving services.
Outsourcing offers savings by releasing the city from costly employee benefits and pensions. Some specialized businesses often can do tasks more efficiently at lower costs, said Administrative Services Director Chris Constantin.
Animal control is one area being considered. Despite the fact the city took over shelter operations from Butte Humane Society just last year, it's possible savings could be found in another way of operation, Nakamura said.
Human resource agencies and private wastewater treatment operators recently have contacted the city to offer services. Information systems operations and even legal services are also being considered.
Outsourcing of street sweeping or other public works tasks also offer equipment savings, by reducing the need to maintain and replace some of the city's sizable vehicle fleet, Nakamura said. (link to source)
Private service? City considers contracting out animal-shelter operations
July 04, 2013
A little more than a year after the Chico Police Department took over operations of the local animal shelter from the Butte Humane Society, the shelter is on the list of government services that could be contracted [out]..
Savings would be realized through the use of volunteers, former Police Chief Mike Maloney told the Chico City Council at the time.
The takeover was designed to save the city money and improve conditions at the shelter.
The Police Department had estimated that through the first five months the city would save $127,490 by not funding BHS $102,490, combined with $25,000 projected revenue from impound fees and spay-and-neuter fees minus the cost of food and care. As it turned out, initially running the shelter cost the city about $134,000 more than if the change in operations had not been made.
Last week, a notice was circulated among shelter workers and public supporters warning of the possible takeover.
“The city manager is looking to contract out sheltering services as a cost-saving measure,” the notice says
For his part, Nakamura said the shelter is one of a number of services that could be contracted out by the city. (link to source)
Chico Enterprise-Record Editorial: Can the public have a voice on city budget?
July 23, 2013
Our view: Instead of unilaterally cutting services, maybe the city of Chico could ask its citizens what they'd be willing to do without.
With the city of Chico considering hiring private firms to provide municipal services, maybe it's a good time to determine what services the people of the city really want.
For example, Thursday's Enterprise-Record article on the subject by Ashley Gebb included a discussion of street sweeping. It was held up as an example of a service that a private firm might not be able to do well, in light of the city's experience privatizing that function a few years back. The contractor didn't do the job well enough, and the city ended up taking it back over.
Instead, we seem to be heading down the path of causing the most public annoyance possible: Let's close Caper Acres four days a week. Lock restrooms in the park. End commercial flights by shutting down the airport fire station. (Thank goodness the firefighters union figured out a way around that.) (link to source)
This website will continually be updated, if you have information that you can provide either anonymously or on the record, please contact us.
Wikipedia:
Privatization, also spelled privatisation, may have several meanings. Primarily, it is the process of transferring ownership of a business, enterprise, agency, public service or public property from the public sector (a government) to the private sector, either to a business that operates for a profit or to a non-profit organization. It may also mean government outsourcing of services or functions to private firms, e.g. revenue collection, law enforcement, and prison management. (link to source)
Statistical Definition:
Definition: Privatisation refers to transfer of ownership and control of government or state assets, firms and operations to private investors.
Context: This transfer takes the form of issue and sale or outright distribution of shares to the general public. Broadly used, the term privatization includes other policies such as "contracting out" that is, the process by which activities, while publicly organized and financed, are carried out by private sector companies, e.g., street cleaning, garbage collection, housing, education. (link to source)
What about Chico?
CHICO: City may start contracting out essential services
07/18/2013
With fewer staff and a continued effort to cut costs, the city of Chico is pursuing options to contract out services and operations.
Nearly all the city government does is up for consideration. City Manager Brian Nakamura said utilizing public-private partnerships is a way to reduce expenses while preserving services.
Outsourcing offers savings by releasing the city from costly employee benefits and pensions. Some specialized businesses often can do tasks more efficiently at lower costs, said Administrative Services Director Chris Constantin.
Animal control is one area being considered. Despite the fact the city took over shelter operations from Butte Humane Society just last year, it's possible savings could be found in another way of operation, Nakamura said.
Human resource agencies and private wastewater treatment operators recently have contacted the city to offer services. Information systems operations and even legal services are also being considered.
Outsourcing of street sweeping or other public works tasks also offer equipment savings, by reducing the need to maintain and replace some of the city's sizable vehicle fleet, Nakamura said. (link to source)
Private service? City considers contracting out animal-shelter operations
July 04, 2013
A little more than a year after the Chico Police Department took over operations of the local animal shelter from the Butte Humane Society, the shelter is on the list of government services that could be contracted [out]..
Savings would be realized through the use of volunteers, former Police Chief Mike Maloney told the Chico City Council at the time.
The takeover was designed to save the city money and improve conditions at the shelter.
The Police Department had estimated that through the first five months the city would save $127,490 by not funding BHS $102,490, combined with $25,000 projected revenue from impound fees and spay-and-neuter fees minus the cost of food and care. As it turned out, initially running the shelter cost the city about $134,000 more than if the change in operations had not been made.
Last week, a notice was circulated among shelter workers and public supporters warning of the possible takeover.
“The city manager is looking to contract out sheltering services as a cost-saving measure,” the notice says
For his part, Nakamura said the shelter is one of a number of services that could be contracted out by the city. (link to source)
Chico Enterprise-Record Editorial: Can the public have a voice on city budget?
July 23, 2013
Our view: Instead of unilaterally cutting services, maybe the city of Chico could ask its citizens what they'd be willing to do without.
With the city of Chico considering hiring private firms to provide municipal services, maybe it's a good time to determine what services the people of the city really want.
For example, Thursday's Enterprise-Record article on the subject by Ashley Gebb included a discussion of street sweeping. It was held up as an example of a service that a private firm might not be able to do well, in light of the city's experience privatizing that function a few years back. The contractor didn't do the job well enough, and the city ended up taking it back over.
Instead, we seem to be heading down the path of causing the most public annoyance possible: Let's close Caper Acres four days a week. Lock restrooms in the park. End commercial flights by shutting down the airport fire station. (Thank goodness the firefighters union figured out a way around that.) (link to source)
This website will continually be updated, if you have information that you can provide either anonymously or on the record, please contact us.