News summaries
WV: Senate approves increasing toll options
A bill halfway through the West Virginia Legislature would open up the
possibility of more toll roads in the state. In an effort to complete
new road projects, Gov. Joe Manchin wants to give the West Virginia
Parkways Authority the option to expand the state’s toll roads.
Currently, the lone pay-as-you-go route is along the West Virginia
Turnpike. Changes are being sought to address the lack of funding
available to the state to build and maintain key highways. The state’s
dependence on fuel tax collections, which is the major component of the
state’s road fund, has caused problems in recent years. Less fuel
consumption, more fuel-efficient vehicles, and changing driving habits
have been cited for the reduced revenue.
Land Line Magazine
OH: Few students give up state school vouchers
Once students begin using a voucher to attend private schools, they
aren't likely to return to a public school, a Dispatch review of state
data shows.
The Columbus Dispatch
NY: Lawmaker in dramatic shift, wars against charter schools
State Senator Bill Perkins says charter schools may have delivered more
hype than results....As advocates of charter schools, including the
Bloomberg administration, try to persuade legislators to lift the limit
on the number of such schools in the state, no one is as likely to
stand in their way as Mr. Perkins, whose district encompasses nearly 20
charter schools. Several more are planned next year. Over the last
decade, as charter schools have multiplied, Mr. Perkins has undergone a
dramatic shift and emerged as their most outspoken critic in the
Legislature, writing guest columns in newspapers and delivering
impassioned speeches criticizing the “privatization” of public
schools..Mr. Perkins recently announced plans to hold public hearings
on charter schools, to examine, among other things, the sources of
their financing and “how much profit there is in not-for-profit”
schools... He says he opposes an increase in charter schools, even
though many of his constituents seem to want more of them, because he
believes they have allowed the mayor and the schools chancellor, Joel
I. Klein, to abdicate their responsibility to improve Harlem’s regular
elementary schools, which have shrunk as more parents have chosen
charters.
The New York Times
OR: Every greater privatization - Southern Or. Univ
This plan is a giant privatization scheme that pushes the envelope on
fantasized urban molding, as if what is right for the Bay Area,
Portland or Seattle is what we as a community need arising in our
midst. In the last three years the financial services and the food
services on campus have been privatized, much to the chagrin of many
students (the voiceless). This plan would now privatize the campus
student housing and even invent a privatized "faculty housing" as a
"next step" toward ever-greater privatization of staff and faculty
functions here....Yes, it's true, our university system is in sad
financial shape, and this campus especially, through mismanagement over
the years, has some large infrastructure problems. The question is:
Does this mean that privatization is the only answer now?
Ashland Daily Tidings
OK: Tulsa looks at outsourcing management of zoo
Tulsa is joining other cities in considering the growing trend of
privatizing the management of their zoos.Neal said Mayor Dewey Bartlett
is committed to the process and the opportunity to determine whether
“we can have private management that will allow the zoo to operate at
its maximum level, while keeping ownership of the zoo.” Schultz &
Williams consulting firm is conducting a privatization study, which is
expected to be concluded by mid-March. The study costs about $20,000
and is being paid for by the Tulsa Community Foundation.
Tulsa World
OK: Workers comp legislation in trouble
Legislation calling for the sale of the state’s workers’ compensation
insurance agency may be in trouble. "We’re continuing to look at that
issue,” said Rep. Dan Sullivan, R-Tulsa, the author of House Bill 2662,
which calls for the sale of CompSource Oklahoma by Dec. 31, 2011.
"Frankly, it’s a matter of counting noses at this point to see exactly
what our strategy’s going to be...."There’s more of an inclination
towards mutualization than sale at this point,” Sullivan said. New
language calling for mutualization instead of a sale could be inserted
in both measures, he said. Opponents to selling CompSource say it would
result in higher insurance rates for small businesses, state agencies
and volunteer fire departments that can’t buy workers’ compensation
insurance elsewhere...."CompSource was created in 1933 to keep workers’
comp rates competitive and help employers who couldn’t afford private
insurance, and it’s just as important today as it was then. We realize
that times are tough and some insurance company would pay Oklahoma a
lot of money for CompSource, but putting the agency in private hands
would lead to higher rates, and our members can’t afford that.”
The Oklahoman
CA: Fresno looks to outsourcing trash, parks
The city of Fresno could offer an early retirement incentive and
outsource commercial trash pickup and park maintenance to help close a
looming budget shortfall, Budget Director Renena Smith told the City
Council. Smith outlined several possible cost-saving options, and said
layoffs and service reductions also are likely, although she added that
it's too early to speculate about those details. Smith said city staff
continues to refine its budget figures, and now puts the latest
shortfall estimate at $26.9 million through June 2011. Falling revenues
and rising expenses are to blame, she said.
Fresno Bee
CA: Water treatment privatization on June ballot in Novato
On June 8th, Novatoans will be asked to vote on whether the Novato
Santitary District can privatize operations of a 90 million dollar
water waste treatment plant. The proposal would outsource to a French
company, Veolia North America. According to the California Healthy
Communities Network, a project of non-profit Tides Center, the company
has a history of:"costly lawsuits, conviction of Veolia officials and
public officials in embezzlement of public funds, illegal bidding
practices, faulty contracts riddled with important costly omissions,
breach of contract issues from failure to maintain adequate staffing
levels, charging improper expenses to the maintenance and repair bill
covered by the public agency, serious sewage spills, failure to comply
with the federal Clean Water Act, overcharging the public for services,
and plant safety violations."
San Francisco Chronicle (blog)
MA: Milton officials battle privatization of rink
Milton officials are turning up the heat on the state agency that runs
public skating rinks as part of a growing battle over the possible
privatization of a popular public skating rink. Rep. Walter Timilty and
town selectmen have asked the head of the state’s Department of
Conservation and Recreation to halt plans to bring in a third-party
manager for the rink until the town has had enough time to put together
a proposal of its own. “A town shouldn’t go into this without having
done extreme due diligence,” Milton Selectman Chairman John Shields
told the Herald.
Boston Herald
