CUTTING STATE DEFICITS: THE ROLE OF PRIVATIZATION

Privatization has proven a useful tool for local governments to achieve cost savings while maintaining quality public services. That same experience has been repeated in the limited privatization that has thus far occurred among state governments. With state legislators facing tight fiscal constraints, more systematic attention should be given to the potential of privatization. In a study of the California budget, the Reason Foundation found that privatization could yield substantial savings that could cut the budget deficit by at least one-third. Key transportation areas that offer state officials the most immediate and beneficial opportunities to realize cost savings are highway maintenance and infrastructure privatization. In addition, local government contracting out of transit services could yield benefits to both state and local governments.

• Corporate Authors:

  Reason Foundation

  3415 S Sepulveda Boulevard, Suite 400
  Los Angeles, CA  United States  90034
• Authors:
  • Scarlett, L
  • Poole Jr, R W
• Publication Date: 1991-11

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Tables;
• Pagination: 35 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Contracting; Cost effectiveness; Highway maintenance; Infrastructure; Local government; Privatization; Public transit; State government
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Economics; Finance; Highways; Public Transportation; Society; I10: Economics and Administration;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00618750
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: No. 132
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jan 31 1992 12:00AM