DALTON, Ga. — As the city’s new administration trims its budget, Mayor David Pennington and the City Council are considering outsourcing certain city services to a private company or merging services with Whitfield County.
The engineering firm CH2M Hill visited Dalton on March 10 to explain its services.
With outsourcing — unlike privatization — the city government maintains control while a private company provides certain government services, said Rick Hirsekorn, CH2M Hill’s vice president of municipal services.
Outsourcing saves cities money, said Hirsekorn.
“It’s efficiency and effectiveness,” he said, “and it is economics.”
Mr. Hirsekorn said he was invited to Dalton. But city officials say they are not sold on CH2M Hill, or outsourcing.
“Sure, it’s a possibility,” said Alderman Charlie Bethel. “Is it a likelihood? Are we actively trying to go in that direction? I don’t think so.”
City officials are obligated to consider all cost-cutting opportunities, he said.
“We’re seeking to drive efficiency, accountability and value back for our taxpayer,” Mr. Bethel said.
For his part, Mr. Pennington described the meeting with CH2M Hill as “very, very preliminary.”
“I don’t think there’s a whole lot to say,” he said, referring to CH2M Hill, “about that alphabet group.”
The mayor has set a deadline for combining services and is committed to merging building inspector and road department services for the city and Whitfield County by June 1.
The departments would be combined, most of their equipment would be sold, and many projects would be bid to private contractors, Mr. Pennington said. “Obviously,” he added, “jobs would be eliminated.”
Still, Mr. Pennington is looking at outsourcing.
“We saw a Powerpoint presentation (from CH2M Hill), and anybody can make a Powerpoint presentation look good,” Mr. Pennington said. “I like digging into details.”
FAST FACTS
The company CH2M Hill runs every city service except police and fire protection for four Georgia municipalities: Sandy Springs, Johns Creek, Milton and Chattahoochee Hill County.
