George Wenschhof
The move to privatize government services put forth by the Frederick Board of County Commissioners President Blaine Young has resulted in a significant public outcry.
As, I opined in an earlier piece, this was a step too far, made by Blaine Young and Company.
The earlier board decision to eliminate 100% of county funding to the long time successful Head Start program, using a 3% budget shortfall as the reasoning, being just the first step by Blaine to make radical right wing ideological driven decisions. Rather, than to take a thoughtful and reasonable approach to balancing the budget.
What followed were drastic slashes in programs for the elderly and non-profit organizations serving those in need.
The public response to the plan by Blaine Young and Company to implement the privatization report prepared by Oliver Porter of PPP Associates LLC has been wide spread from the Frederick County community.
It was refreshing to recently receive an email from Valarie Dale asking folks to attend a rally to protest the implementation of the Oliver Porter privatization report and the potential loss of jobs for a significant number of county employees. Her call for support was joined by former county commissioner Kai Hagen and many other community leaders.
In my column published the day after Oliver Porter gave his privatization report to the board of county commissioners, I questioned the validity of the report and called for an independent study, suggesting the University of Maryland.
Editorials in the Frederick News Post and the Frederick Gazette have also called for an independent review and a slower, more reasoned approach to the privatization of government services.
Fortunately, The League of Women Voters of Frederick County stepped up and did just that, asking for and receiving a review of the Oliver Porter report from the University of Maryland’s School of Public Policy.
What is also important to note is the cost of the report was zero. A significant factor considering Board President Blaine Young, whose theme is saving taxpayer money, authorized a sole source $25,000 privatization study with PPP Associates LLC. Money spent on a report which was going to tell him what he wanted to hear.
The independent and nonpartisan study requested by the League of Women voters was prepared by Dr. Donald F. Kettl (Bio) who is the Dean of The School of Public Policy. A uniquely qualified scholar to undertake such a review. One, who can hardly be labeled as being a member of a anti privatization group.
In a press release issued today by the League of Women Voters, Dr. Kettl said that he wants to "underline very, very strongly and repeat constantly" that "the public-private partnership approach includes a very large number of different strategies. What is being proposed in Frederick County is not part of the mainstream public-private partnership approach."
You can read the full report here. Dr. Kettl goes on to say public-private partnerships have been used successfully in Maryland and across the country, pointing out the "mainstream approach often works well because it is transparent, accountable and managed well."
This review clearly illustrates the lack of credibility in the Oliver Porter report and underlines the importance of slowing down and taking a more reasoned approach to the privatization of local government services.
For years, I have been calling for the election of a fair, reasonable and balanced board of county commissioners. The ongoing back and forth extremes have been a detriment to those who reside in the community.
To achieve meaningful and long term change in policy on an issue; it takes support from a variety of folks, not just like minded individuals. The present day gridlock among members of Congress over the budget is a painful example of how politicians driven solely on ideology are unable to reach long term solutions on an issue.
Board President Blaine Young is a prime example of a politician driven solely by ideology. With Young given Carte Blanche by commissioners Kirby Delauter and Billy Shreve, there has been a lack of needed balance on the board.
Rather, than use the power afforded him by the election wisely, Young has merely resorted to the age old practice of moving to overturn policies enacted by the previous board of commissioners. A continuation of the back and forth action taken by county commissioner boards over the last twenty plus years.
Which is why, it is so helpful to receive reasonable input on a volatile issue such as the privatization of government services.
The nonpartisan League of Women Voters of Frederick County deserves a big thank you for showing how a divisive issue should be handled by local elected officials.
Co-Presidents Bonnie Bailey Baker and Claire Kondig along with Vice President Mary Ellen Rhoderick concluded their press conference (which can be read in full here) with a recommendation the county commissioners do the following:
1. Undertake a careful analysis of potential cost savings department by department, taking into account elements in addition to employee costs. Several good suggestions for cost-cutting were made at the first employee hearing, and we’d expect more to follow at the later hearings.
2. Undertake a citizen survey to identify the services/programs that are deemed essential as well as those they’d like to have reduced, eliminated, or provided differently. The survey could also evaluate citizen satisfaction with current provision of services, as recommended by the PPP Associates report.
3. Undertake an evaluation of possible changes to pensions and benefits, particularly for new employees, because this has been identified as a major concern for the long term. This has the advantage of a gradual change that can be absorbed, rather than an abrupt impact to an already fragile economy.
4. Appoint a broadly representative task force/steering committee (including members of the business and non-profit sectors as well as a cross-section of citizens) to make recommendations, monitor implementation of measures taken, and suggest modifications as needed. The creation of a committee without a particular agenda, and real powers, could allay criticism and facilitate public buy-in to changes.
As Dr. Kettl concluded, “Accountability in government can’t be contracted out.”
One has to hope Blaine Young and company takes Dr. Kettl’s report and the recommendations from the League of Women Voters of Frederick County seriously and halts the rapid approach currently underway to implement the ill conceived recommendations in the report prepared by Oliver Porter.
Maryland has no recall provision for elected officials or requirement that a drastic change such as the privatization of 25% of local government services go to referendum.
Board president Blaine Young and Kirby Delauter have stated publicly they are not running for reelection. This is hardly a good excuse for taking irresponsible action while in office. But nonetheless, a position they hold which allows them to follow a reckless ideological driven path.
Commissioner David Gray has been the sole expressed opposition to the privatization plan presented by Oliver Porter. Commissioner Paul Smith, showing some reason on the board, has stated the need to slow down and conduct a thorough department by department review.
This leaves Commissioner Billy Shreve as the swing vote on this issue. Shreve, who does want to continue to serve in elected office, has been extremely vocal in support of the Oliver Porter report.
In light of the thoughtful review provided by Dr. Kettl, one would expect a more reasoned approach to the issue from Mr. Shreve.
Another compelling reason to slow down the privatization process was put forward by Frederick News Post columnist Don Kornreich who wisely points out with the move to charter government being a decision voters will make next year, it only makes sense to wait to see the outcome of that vote in the 2012 general election, before moving to privatize such a large percentage of local government services.
This is not to say a public private relationship in regard to the provision of some local government services may make sense and may well deserve serious consideration. However, the careless full steam ahead approach to implement privatization of 25% of the existing county services based on a single and flawed report is simply irresponsible.
Frederick County voters deserve reasonable, fair and balanced representation – they should demand it.
Stay Tuned…
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