Factors Associated with Privatization of Winter Maintenance Functions at Local Government Level

Abstract

With the increasing cost of and dissatisfaction with services provided by government agencies, a new notion has appeared that gives hope to some and instills fear in others. Many believe that privatizing government services is the answer to the ills associated with today’s government-provided services. County road commissions in the state of Michigan are one of the many government entities examining privatization. High cost and poor service are concerns that have thrust road commission operations under the privatization spotlight. Snow and ice removal from roads is one operation currently under scrutiny. To come to conclusions about privatization and the winter maintenance services that road commissions perform, one must fully understand the road commission concept and how it functions within the state of Michigan as well as the idea of privatization. The nonquantitative factors that affect privatization at the local government level are described. Two road commissions in the state of Michigan and their winter maintenance operations are examined so that judgments can be made about the value of private delivery.