Contracting Back In
New survey evidence shows that public officials are finding that privatization has its limits. While contracting out continues to be widely used by many local governments, the practice of "contracting back in" - where governments choose to resume in-house production following a period of privately produced service - is becoming increasingly common. The following are cases of local governments bringing previously contracted work back in-house.
The cases are drawn from International City/County Management Association Survey Data of municipalities reporting a change from contracted services to in-house provision from 1992-1997. The cases are based on interviews conducted by Michael Ballard while working on a joint research project with Mildred Warner, Assoc. Professor of City and Regional Planning at Cornell University, and the American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees. The interviews were conducted in Summer of 1999.
| Place | Service(s) | Competitive bidding | Failed contract |
|---|---|---|---|
| Akron, Ohio | Road Repairs | No | No |
| Ardmore, Oklahoma | Waste Water Treatment Plant | No | Yes |
| Campbell, California | Buildings and Grounds Maintenance | No | Yes |
| Charlotte, North Carolina | Paratransit Service | Yes | Yes |
| Cincinnati, Ohio | Yard Waste | Yes | No |
| Columbus, Ohio | School Grounds Maintenance | No | Yes |
| Fort Collins, Colorado | Paratransit Service | No | Yes |
| Fort Lauderdale, Florida | Infrastructure Pipe Installation | Yes | No |
| Independence, Iowa | Grass Mowing | Yes | Yes |
| Independence, Iowa | Laundry Services | No | Yes |
| Irvine, California | Seniors Meal Program | Yes | Yes |
| Irvine, California | Seniors Care Management | Yes | Yes |
| Lakewood, Colorado | Winter Street Sweeping | No | Yes |
| Lubbock, Texas | Residential Trash Collection | Yes | Yes |
| Marshalltown, Iowa | Veterans Home Food Service | No | Yes |
| Moore, Oklahoma | Public Works | No | Yes |
| Northbrook, Illinois | Water Meter Reading | No | Yes |
| Pinellas County, Florida | Grounds Maintenance | No | Yes |
| Rialto, California | Grounds Maintenance | No | No |
| Rialto, California | Water Meter Reading | No | Yes |
| Sanford, Florida | Ambulance Service | No | Yes |
| Sanford, Florida | Utility Meter Reading | No | Yes |
| Savannah, Georgia | Fire Services | No | Yes |
| Sioux City, Iowa | Residential Trash Collection | Yes | No |
| Warwick, Rhode Island | Residential Trash Collection | Yes | No |
| Whittier, California | Public Bus Service | No | Yes |