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Board of County Commissioners

Competition and Efficiency Committee

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is managed competition?

2. How is managed competition different from privatization?

3. Why is the County doing this?

4. How can public employees compete with private sector?

5. How is the process monitored?

6. How are services selected for managed competition?

7. Are any services not subject to managed competition?

8. Is Hamilton County the only jurisdiction doing this?

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1. What is managed competition?
Managed competition is a process by which government agencies compete with the private sector for the delivery of services – potentially resulting in better services for less money.

2. How is managed competition different from privatization?
Under managed competition, county departments compete against private firms to be selected as the most cost effective service provider.

3. Why is the County doing this?
The Competition and Efficiency Committee is an important part of the Commissioners’ efforts to provide better services at lower cost to taxpayers

4. How can public employees compete with private sector?
County employees are already proving they can compete with the private sector for delivery of county services. The County’s first review, fire hydrant maintenance, found that county staff is the most cost-effective service provider.

5. How is the process monitored?
Hamilton County’s Gate Management Manual provides for detailed monitoring of all competition initiatives at every stage of the process.

6. How are services selected for managed competition?
Please review the committee’s Service Review Selection Criteria.

7. Are any services not subject to managed competition?
Select county services, by their very nature are critical to the health and safety of citizens of Hamilton County. While all county services should be evaluated for efficiency and effectiveness, some county services may not be candidates for managed competition because of potential operational risks. For example, operation of the public safety communications center may not be an appropriate canddate for managed competition.

8. Is Hamilton County the only jurisdiction doing this?
No. Many cities, counties, states and even the federal government are using managed competition to provide more efficient government services to taxpayers. Some of the other jurisdictions include: the Indianapolis, Indiana, Charlotte-Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, Phoenix, Arizona, Miami Dade County, Florida , and San Diego County, California .