Briefs

BLISSFIELD—One of the advantages of contracting out for public services is that if the private contractor does not perform, he can be replaced; often relatively easily. Recently, school board officials in this Lenawee County community, were unhappy with a company that provided transportation for Blissfield High School students to Washington, D. C. in February. In May they decided to hire a different firm to take eighth-graders on a field trip to Chicago.

GAYLORD—In May, conflicting city and county ordinances regarding animal control prompted Gaylord City Manager Joe Duff to suggest looking into privatization as a solution. City ordinances specify the number and types of animals allowed within the city limits, as well as exotic animals, while Otsego County's ordinance does not. Last January the Gaylord City Council found that city animal control officers could not enforce parts of the city's animal control ordinance because it was different from the county's enforcement code. Duff thinks privatization might give animal control workers more flexibility to satisfy ordinance requirements.

EAST LANSING—It's not exactly privatization, but it is a form of contracting out nonetheless. Starting this fall, Michigan State University students will pay a quarter for on-campus bus rides by the Capital Area Transportation Authority (CATA). The MSU Board of Trustees voted in April to let university officials sell 14 of the university's 21 buses and have CATA take over campus bus routes.

HILLSDALE—A need to balance its budget and save more than $1.5 million over three years has led to a major restructuring of Hillsdale elementary schools. Among the total 23 cost-saving measures: 22 employees have accepted a buy-out plan; three professional positions are to be subcontracted; and the district's print shop will be drastically reduced. The Hillsdale school board considered privatizing its bus fleet but opted not to do so at this time, according to Superintendent Margo Hubbell.

LANSING—After a successful one-year experience, the Michigan Department of Corrections has extended its contract with Missouri-based Correctional Medical Services (CMS) for another four years. In March 1998, CMS took over managed health care services in Michigan's state prisons from a California company that had made chronically late payments to hospitals and doctors. No such complaints were heard about the first year of CMS's service.

FLINT—The Federal Transit Administration ruled on May 5 that the city of Flint's Mass Transportation Authority (MTA) was providing "impermissible school bus service" because rules governing federal aid state that recipients cannot subsidize any "exclusive service" such as school bus operations. That ruling is expected to get MTA out of the school busing business and pave the way for private service from such companies as Flint-based Area Transportation, Inc.