Privatization hasn't been a faucet of money for Easton
Source: Michael P. Fleck, Morning Call (PA), August 7, 2006
"Privatization has not worked for Easton. Privatization has not worked for most municipalities in Pennsylvania.''
There is an old expression, ''If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.'' Currently, Easton is considering a 25-year lease of the city-owned water plant to Easton Suburban Water Authority. On the surface this looks like a great idea. The city gets a short term cash infusion, residents save on rates, and a private water expert is running the plant. But, doesn't this sound all too familiar?
It was a little over a decade ago that Easton residents were told how great private garbage collection was going to be. The city would receive a cash infusion, the residents would save money, and a private hauler would do a much better job. City leaders, at that time, sold off trucks and spent the proceeds. Now, that we do not have any trucks and the collection company has us over the barrel, or in this case over the dump truck, rates could go up as much as 300 percent. This is one example of city privatization gone poorly.