Allow private companies to maintain city parks
A recent column regarding Erie County’s decision to cease maintenance of the City of Buffalo parks made me think that an opportunity is at hand.
I agree that this decision is a blow to the goal of regionalism, consolidation and downsizing of government. All branches of government should be finding ways to cut costs. That said, I see an opportunity for Buffalo to be bold and try something new. Instead of retooling the old Parks Department, why not look into allowing private companies to maintain the parks through a competitive bidding process? This would eliminate the need to hire or rehire more public employees.
In our state and region, public employees comprise too high a percentage of our work force, and besides, state-mandated costs comprise the most expensive piece of our local budget. Factor in better than good pay rates, lax work rules, lifetime health benefits, days off and retirement costs and you have a financial monster that we have to rein in.
Buffalo could lead the way and at least explore the option. Private companies could surely do the job as well and at less cost. We could lower the ballooning number of public employees and the number of future retirees.
The current payroll and retirement packages are unaffordable in this economic environment, and the Parks Department would be a great place to start delivering services in a new way, through privatization.
Keith Clauss
Town of Boston
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