I-Team asks if privatization coming to Toledo Public Utilities - 13abc.com Toledo (OH) News, Weather and Sports

With the city of Toledo ready to examine its Department of Public Utilities, could some services be privatized?  The city's done it before and the 13abc I-team is asking whether it will happen again.

This is all based on a performance audit which is in the works for the department.  A similar performance audit, conducted by the State Auditor, was done for the city of Cincinnati and two of the major points were privatizing garbage pickup and street sweeping.

So if Toledo's audit suggests privatization, the 13abc I-Team asked to see how much support there would be.

Privatization is not a new concept in Toledo.  Just a few years ago trash services was privatized.  So what happens if a third party audit of the department of public utilities calls for privatization  here as well?

"I think we have really good people working there.  What we need to make sure is that our efficiencies are the same as if it were a private business," said Toledo Mayor Mike Bell. 

"I would love to seriously take a good look at that.  We went to privatize our refuse collection and saw immediate savings, huge increase in service so I'm very much for looking at ways to outsource this stuff from a private sector standpoint, absolutely," said Toledo city councilman Tom Waniewski.   

"I would have to look very carefully at that because I'm not so sure that's the panacea or answer to everything that we do.  I think we have to look at government separately and distinct from private business.  There are different focuses, there are different purposes of each," said Toledo city councilwoman Paula Hicks-Hudson. 

While none of these council members will commit 100%, they're clearly not anti-union.  Friday afternoon, in a unanimous vote, council ratified a new contract for Teamsters local 20.  That's about 90 employees in water reclamation and the landfill.  But with water rate increases on the way, everyone admits all options need to be explored.  Some are preparing if privatization is one of them.

"If we're inefficient, if we can move to things that are more efficient and it models the private side you don't have to privatize but if it doesn't then you need to just be open minded to whatever it's gonna take to make sure the taxpayers are getting their money's worth," said Mayor Bell.  

A committee is still being formed to put out proposals for this audit.  That's when companies could bid on doing the audit.  So it's not exactly clear as to when then results we come back to the city.