We all know that Government is not efficient and wasteful. Why not outsource?

The folks in the City are not Unionized, at least as far as the Parks are concerned. I have family in that Dept. If the City wanted to save money how bout a pay cut for all of those that did not meet their campaign promises. That way they are help accountable for their actions in a manner that will leave an impression. I for one am tired of watching the folks in the City bldg run my City into the ground for their own pockets.

hitek71 - I don't know if the city workers are under union... But I do know that unions are causing more problems than they are helping these days. They are so far from what they were initially started for and are so in control of their members that they don't even notice it. I have to wonder - if the aircraft companies weren't so tied up with all these union contracts in the first place, could they have kept more people employed in the long run? And another thing to think about in response to your comment - if the city jobs were contracted out, the workers would be paid just above minimum wage. That might help the city's budget a little, yes, but what about those previous workers that got paid a little more... They are being replaced by workers that don't get paid as much - possibly having to be on government assistance for their families anyway (thus further draining the state and federal budgets).

Get rid of the funding for air fares and the city will be able to manage their budget. With the recession in full swing the airlines will not jeopardize losing customers to higher air fares. That money could go somewhere else where it is needed and not wasted.

Would I be going out on a limb here if I said the contract workers cost less because they aren't unionized? I assume the City workers are, and the contractors aren't. As a tax payer, I see the savings in the switch. Even if they're not union, Government has a proven record of costing twice as much (or some multiple higher), than a private business -- the former doesn't have a bottom line to protect to keep the business open, the later does.