Letter to the Editor
Selling the Sewers: The Sweet Smell of Success
By Bruce Stahl, a research assistant at the Show-Me Institute promotes market solutions for Missouri public policy, says there a numerous benefits to Arnold selling its sewers.
Officials for the city of Arnold, Mo., are studying the possibility of privatizing the city’s sewer system. This would be a positive development for several reasons. The city could raise a large amount of money through the sale of its sewer system — possibly millions of dollars. First, the city could raise a large amount of money through the sale of its sewer system — possibly millions of dollars. This could be used to pay down debt, invest in needed public services, or lower taxes. The city of Florissant used the revenue from the 2002 sale of its water utility to finance several public improvements and establish a $10 million reserve fund. Second, privatization would turn the sewers into a taxable asset. This means additional revenue for …
Doris Borgelt
11:52 am on Sunday, February 12, 2012
Your arguments may be relevant, but at this point in time, moot. Actually, I would have to disagree that the private company could provide a better service for citizens than the local and personalized service we receive from our city employees. Our sewer department responds quickly to any calls for service, which has not been the case for the company that made the unsolicited offer. Yes, there … more ›