CONTRACTING OUT: MAKING INFORMED DECISIONS

This article provides an example of how a local government provided taxpayers with quality services at reduced costs by contracting out basic municipal services. The city of Rancho Palos Verdes, California, contracted with Charles Abbott Associates, Inc., to administer its engineering and public works functions in 1984. The contractor became involved in landslide correction activities along the 0.8 mile of coastal road that ran through a landslide area and was costing the city about $250,000 a year to maintain. The contractor was able to correct the slide area more efficiently and at less cost than the city for several reasons, including previous experience facing similar situations and pressure to perform and adhere to budgetary limits. This article points out that the key elements of the success or failure of privatization or alternative service delivery options are how well the contracting city or agency is managed and the expertise of the private firm.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/1606878
• Corporate Authors:

  Public Works Journal Corporation

  200 South Broad Street
  Ridgewood, NJ  United States  07451
• Authors:
  • Abbott, C
• Publication Date: 1990-9

Media Info

• Features: Photos;
• Pagination: p. 110-111
• Serial:
  • Public Works
  • Volume: 121
  • Issue Number: 10
  • Publisher: Hanley Wood
  • ISSN: 0033-3840
  • Serial URL: http://www.pwmag.com

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Constraints; Contract administration; Cost effectiveness; Decision making; Economic efficiency; Knowledge; Local government
• Uncontrolled Terms: Efficiency; Experience
• Old TRIS Terms: Contract maintenance
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Economics; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; I10: Economics and Administration; I60: Maintenance;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00497367
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Sep 30 1990 12:00AM