Los Angeles' top financial supervisor on Monday urged the city to privatize dozens of major public operations in order to generate more revenue to offset current and projected budget deficits.
A report released by the office of Controller Laura Chick recommended the city privatize operations in nine broad areas, including an airport, animal shelters and city-owned golf courses.
The report identified the privatization of Ontario International Airport, the third largest airport in the Los Angeles area, as the one that could generate the most revenue for the city.
The report also proposed joint development with private partners of vacant or underutilized city parcels.
Chick said in a letter to Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and the City Council that the cost of delivering essential services keeps growing at a rate that exceeds the city's ability to generate revenue, and is a major reason the city has had a structural deficit for years.
"When it comes to looking at how the city can fulfill its obligations to the public, and pay for it, no subject should be taboo," the official wrote.
Privatization attempts have met with stiff opposition from public employee unions in the past.
Chick said she knew that many suggestions in the report would the touch nerves of public employees and their union leadership, and thus the report recommends including labor as a partner.
State and municipal governments across the United States have been struggling to balance their budgets as tax revenues keep declining amid a deteriorating U.S. economy.
Source:Xinhua
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