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Recent Research and Commentary

Innovators in Action (Jan 2012 edition): Tulsa, Oklahoma Mayor Dewey Bartlett, Jr.

January 13, 2012, 12:02pm

Leonard Gilroy

In the latest installment of Reason Foundation's Innovators in Action series, Tulsa, Oklahoma Mayor Dewey Bartlett, Jr. offers his reflections on tackling the city's fiscal challenges by embracing innovation, competition and market-based policies. In the article, Mayor Bartlett details the bleak fiscal situation his administration walked into two years ago, his proactive approach to developing solutions and a number of the administration's implementation successes to date. In short, Mayor Bartlett is applying the tools of competition—such as competitive sourcing and public-private partnerships—to deliver better value to taxpayers and right the city's fiscal course.

Tulsa: Open for Business

Tackling city's challenges requires willingness to embrace innovation, competition and market ideas

January 13, 2012

Dewey Bartlett, Jr.
Mayor of Tulsa, Oklahoma

On my first day in office, my finance director greeted me with the sober news that, after ten consecutive months of declining sales tax revenues, all previous measures to balance the city budget had failed to stop the real threat of deficit spending. We quickly discerned that the city government had not prepared for times such as these. City government had grown too big, it cost too much, it was doing too much, and it had made commitments and promises to our government employee unions that could not be kept. We clearly understood our challenge—maintain fiscal solvency while providing essential government services. My vision was equally clear—to restore, redirect and reform government services to prevent Tulsa from ever again finding itself in this vulnerable situation.

Building Puerto Rico's Successful Infrastructure PPP Program

September 9, 2011, 2:23pm

Leonard Gilroy

For some must-read, innovator insights on what it takes to build a successful PPP program, check out my new interview with PPPA executive director David Alvarez, where he discusses the development of Puerto Rico's PPP program, the benefits of having a centralized PPP program with a broad scope across infrastructure sectors, and the central role of the PPP program in Puerto Rico's economic development strategy.

Building a World-Class Infrastructure PPP Program in Puerto Rico

Interview with David Alvarez, executive director of the Puerto Rico Public-Private Partnerships Authority

September 8, 2011

Leonard Gilroy

In this August 2011 interview with Reason Foundation's Leonard Gilroy, Puerto Rico Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) Authority executive director David Alvarez discusses the development of Puerto Rico's PPP program, the benefits of having a centralized PPP program with a broad scope across infrastructure sectors, and the central role of the PPPs in Puerto Rico's economic development strategy.

La Jolla to Secede from City of San Diego?

April 29, 2010, 9:32pm

Adam Summers

[La Jolla] is more than capable of providing for its own services, and has been frustrated as resources have been siphoned away to line the pockets of San Diego employee labor union members while local services decline and the San Diego administration and city council appear unwilling or unable to tackle mounting debts and implement needed reforms.

Louisiana Announces Privatization of Insurance Program

March 16, 2010, 6:59pm

Leonard Gilroy

The Louisiana Division of Administration has announced the privatization of their state self-insurance operation, primarily the management of all property and casualty claims and loss prevention services, to save $20 million.

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