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East Chicago Mayor Anthony Copeland is getting a lot of flak, even from the City Council, for announcing his intention to privatize the city's ambulance service — at a savings of $1.4 million — to help bring the city closer to living within its means. Private medical transportation firms have submitted bids.
The ambulance drivers likely would be hired by the new provider. This happens often in the private sector; why shouldn't it be the case in the public sector as well?
This is just one example of ways local governments can and should rethink the way they do business.
Many municipalities have switched the way household trash is picked up. Supplying large wheeled bins allows for less manpower to pick up the cans — the garbage truck driver can operate a remote-controlled arm without leaving the truck — and reduces exposure to work-related injuries.
This, too, is a way to provide quality services at a lower cost.
Grumbling about the tax caps won't make them go away. Instead, local government needs to begin a wave of innovation to provide excellent service at less cost.
This has happened in the private sector, and it needs to happen in the public sector as well.
When that happens, the tax caps will have had their intended effect.
Read more: http://www.nwitimes.com/news/opinion/editorial/editorial-respond-to-tax-caps-with-innovation/article_2a2d9606-be18-5784-bafb-f90fa7bedd48.html#ixzz1s7r2oSk0
