Three questions immediately came to mind when the city discussed
exploring the option of privatizing the city’s sewer system: Can
they build it quickly, run it efficiently and why didn’t the city
do this years ago?
Three questions immediately came to mind when the city discussed exploring the option of privatizing the city’s sewer system: Can they build it quickly, run it efficiently and why didn’t the city do this years ago?
Council members have said fixing the city’s busted sewer system was the No. 1 priority for the city, but it would seem looking into privatization would be a no-brainer.
Private business typically runs more efficiently with lower overhead costs than bureaucratically-burdened government. Hopefully any savings in construction and operation costs could be passed directly on to the people who need it most – local residents, so long as it doesn’t completely strip the public of control of the important piece of infrastructure.
This newspaper has touted the importance of fixing the sewer system since the levy broke in 2002, spilling 15 million gallons of treated effluent into the San Benito River bed, and the negative effect the subsequent building moratorium has had on the local economy. Business has stagnated and local business owners are struggling to get by, not to mention the numerous shops and restaurants that have closed since the moratorium. As Gilroy grows by leaps and bounds, that city and its residents enjoy the numerous sales tax dollars flowing into their coffers. Hollister, on the other hand, remains exactly the same save for the shrinking city work force, growing social problems and crumbling infrastructure. Meanwhile, most of our city’s residents spend their retail dollars in Gilroy’s big box stores and outlet malls.
As the city prepares to ask residents to increase the local sales tax, it’s obvious the lack of economic growth – largely hindered by the building moratorium – plays a big role in the need to raise taxes.
Nonetheless, the city appears to have seen the light when it comes to privatization and is headed in the right direction. No one knows if a private company is the answer to our wastewater woes yet, but at least they bring more experience in the industry than our city leaders. Likewise, the numerous scenarios the city could explore, such as privatizing the construction and operation or even just the operation, will give us needed options. And, it’s safe to assume that any private company could put wheels on the project to get it done quickly. Otherwise, the solution to the sewer dilemma will continue to move at, quite frankly, the speed of government.
