Reason Foundation

Recent Research and Commentary

NYC Parking Under Bloomberg: Bright Potential, Blighted Past

February 3, 2012, 7:41pm

Harris Kenny

This morning Juan Gonzalez of the New York Daily News writes: "The firm that built and manages the new Yankee Stadium parking garages can’t repay $237 million in tax-exempt bonds the Bloomberg administration arranged for it four years ago, new financial records show." However, there is a kernel of optimism in that the Mayor's office is considering leveraging additional city parking assets that actually would create value for residents and motorists.

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.

Annual Privatization Report 2008

Reason Foundation's 22nd annual analysis of privatization and outsourcing

August 1, 2008

Leonard Gilroy

Privatization remains a key policy focus as public officials grapple with deteriorating fiscal conditions, according to Reason Foundation's Annual Privatization Report 2008. With as many as 23 states potentially facing budget deficits in fiscal 2009, state governments are increasingly looking for ways to cut costs without cutting services. Enter the private sector.

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