Bellflower was able to reduce costs, at the same time increase service, by privatizing many functions
that were previously done by government employees. At the end of Art's term, the city's government employment level was at a 20 year low. The trees in Bellflower were growing
faster than the city crews could trim them. Branches were falling on cars; roots were destroying sidewalks and streets. Something needed to be done. Privatization!
In what
turned out to be one of the most well received moves taken by the city council, the privatization of tree trimming resulted in a 67% reduction in per-tree cost and tripled the
number of trees trimmed. The claims against the city for damaged cars ended. Future repairs to sidewalks and streets were avoided. And the citizens were ecstatic on how beautiful
their neighborhoods had become!
Bellflower was contracting with the Los Angeles County Building Department for plan check and inspections. Although not as high as most cities,
the fees were still too high and the city was losing money every month because the county wanted even more money. The plan-check process was extremely slow and many of the
inspectors were rude and arrogant.
The Building Department was privatized and consolidated with the Planning and Public Works departments in a "one stop shop". The
result was a 33% reduction in permit fees, fast and friendly service, and a positive cash flow for the city.
Privatization of state run institutions such as the
prisons and the University of California would dramatically reduce the cost of government in California.
A state-of-the-art tolling and public-private
partnership law should be enacted that would authorize both Caltrans and local/regional levels of government to initiate toll-funded transportation infrastructure projects, and
permit them to partner with the private sector to carry out such projects, using both RFPs and procedures for dealing with unsolicited proposals. This would enable California to
enter the global capital markets, as well as tapping world-class expertise for modernizing its vitally important highway system. (See
