Privatization in Practice: Reports on Trends, Cases and Debates in Public Service by Business and Nonprofits

by Joaquin Jay Gonzalez III (Editor), Roger L. Kemp (Editor)

Overview

Cost efficiency was the initial goal of privatization--achieved in many cases but not consistently. Public services provided by the private sector were cheap in the beginning but became increasingly expensive, especially to low-income citizens. The lessons learned from early successes and failures gave birth to a new goal--effectiveness of services, as measured by accountable results. Government officials are not looking just for proven budget savings; they must also be concerned with the quality of public services and ultimately the happiness of citizens and communities. In its updated second edition, this collection of essays explores the good and the bad sides of privatization.

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Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780786476770
Publisher:	McFarland & Company, Incorporated Publishers
Publication date:	07/14/2016
Edition description:	Revised
Pages:	248
Product dimensions:	6.90(w) x 9.90(h) x 0.60(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Joaquin Jay Gonzalez III, Ph.D., is vice provost for global affairs as well as chair and Mayor George Christopher Professor of Public Administration at Golden Gate University. He founded GGU’s law enforcement and security program and is a San Francisco advocate for the safety and security of Filipino American kids and their families. Roger L. Kemp, Ph.D., ICMA-CM, has been a city manager on both the East and West coasts for more than 25 years. He is presently Distinguished Adjunct Professor of Public Administration at Golden Gate University and a Fellow of The Academy of Political Science.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments vi

Preface 1

Part I Trends and Practices

1 Private Delivery of Public Services, 20 Years On John Carroll 7

2 Public, Private or Nonprofit Providers Alicia Schatteman 10

3 Time for the Plural Sector Henry Mintzberg 12

4 Public Interest Partnerships Joaquin Jay Gonzalez III 21

5 Contemplating Collaboration David Swindell Cheryll Hilvert 25

6 Shared Services and Cost-Saving Collaboration Monte Mercer 32

7 Strategies for Contract Selection Cathy Lazarus Ted Volskay 37

8 Contracting for Performance Amanda M. Girth Jocelyn M. Johnston 43

9 Contract Management in Contract City Jonas Prager John Flint 46

10 P3 Structures and Arrangements Justin Marlowe William Rivenbark A. John Vogt 50

11 Recovery Budgeting and Pub lie-Private Partnerships Amy Davis 53

12 Third-Party Agreements Bob Bland 57

13 Innovation in Public Management Katy Singlaub 60

14 Managed Competition: Ten Years of Progress Tom Guilfoy 66

15 Unloading Assets Christopher Swope 69

Part II Cases and Applications

16 Got Nightlife? Jim Peters Alicia Scholer 74

17 Business Improvement Districts Lawrence Houstoun 80

18 Help Businesses, Shop Local Ken Pulskamp 85

19 Love at First Site Jennifer Grzeskowiak 89

20 The Station at Potomac Yard Helen S. McIlvaine 93

21 Somber Spots and Bright Spots Craig Chavez 98

22 The Park That Paid Off Greg Beato 101

23 Mission: Green Ed Brock 112

24 The Green Standard Connie Kuranko 116

25 Solar Communities Anna Read 119

26 Privatization of Waste Water Treatment Plant Ted Volskay 122

27 Enterprise-Wide Computerized Work and Asset Management System Steve Klepper and City Managers Office Team 125

28 Private Works Robert Barkin 129

29 Why Wi-Fi? Why Not? Kevin Fitchard 132

30 Examining Parking Privatization as a Fiscal Solution David Taxman 136

31 Determining the Role of P3: Building Inspections Kyle Steitz 140

32 Arts Mean Economic Revitalization Robert Lynch 144

33 Retirees: A New Economic Development Strategy Christen Smith 147

34 Social Impact of Bonds to Fund Human Services Charles Taylor 149

35 Public Library Privatization Muriel Strand 152

36 Does Government Work Require Government Employees? John Buntin 154

37 Is Public Safety Exempt from Managed Competition? Tom Guilfoy 159

38 Public-Private Partnerships in Higher Education Frank Woodward 163

Part III Discussions and Debates

39 Privatization, Efficiency and the Public Interest Michael Abels 166

40 Large Questions Paul Farmer 168

41 Contracting Issues Institute for Local Government 171

42 Putting Public Safety in Private Hands Dennis Compton 174

43 Privatization of Medicare John Geyman 176

44 Perils of Privatization Ann Hagedorn 179

45 Arguments For and Risks of Privatization Chicago Council on Global Affairs Emerging Class of 2008 182

46 Wows and Woes of Public-Private Partnerships Rachel Burstein Edward Shikada 189

47 Pros and Cons of Privatizing Government Functions Russell Nichols 195

48 Benefits and Downsides of Privatizing Municipal Services Stephanie Rozsa Caitlin Geary 199

49 Public Policy and Privatization: Claims and Concerns Nora Leech 204

50 Local Governments Scramble for Budget Solutions Christine Smith Shelley Fulla 210

51 Prudent Privatization Stephen Goldsmith 214

Appendices

I Privatization Glossary from the League of Women Voters 217

II Managed Competition Guidelines from Washoe County, Nevada 221

III League of Women Voters Privatization Position 228

IV International City/County Management Association Steps to Effective Privatization 230

About the Editors and Contributors 231

Index 235

Editorial Reviews

Gonzalez and Kemp compiled an easy-to-read privatization handbook for citizens and communities.”—Jossie Alegre, Senior Manager, San Francisco Public Utilities Commission; “A must read for the astute public servant.”—Ian Kaiser, City Manager, City of Rocky Ford, Colorado; “Gonzalez and Kemp have assembled a superb collection of informative, up-to-date, highly readable chapters on the delivery of public services by business firms and nonprofit organizations. The volume is conveniently divided into Parts on trends and developments, often-critical discussions and essays, and two dozen lively cases. You will want to have this volume on your bookshelf.”— J. Steven Ott, PhD, Professor, University of Utah; “An excellent how-to guide for business and nonprofit contractors.”—Terry Curl, DPA, Chicago Bridge and Iron senior engineering consultant and former assistant city manager; “Gonzalez and Kemp have put together a highly accessible collection of real-world examples and discussions surrounding the provision of public services by organizations in the private and nonprofit sectors. The volume provides an excellent mix of case studies and thought provoking commentary on the privatization of public services that serves as an excellent resource for researchers and practitioners alike.”—Jesse Levin, PhD, Principal Economist, American Institutes for Research; Reviews of the first edition: “excellent”—Choice; “guidelines, examples, and precautions are outlined”—American Libraries

From the Publisher