OUTSOURCE CITY MAINTENANCE
Greenfield outsources engineering, legal, audit, water, and waste treatment services. In Minnesota, some cities have chosen to outsource even their road and park maintenance to manage costs and improve service efficiency. Public Works pay and benefits are expected to exceed $550,000 next year, accounting for over 20% of our operating budget. This figure doesn’t include the capital costs for equipment and its maintenance.
I am not proposing that we eliminate our Public Works department, but I do believe we should at least explore the cost-benefit analysis of outsourcing snow and ice removal from our city streets, as well as the maintenance of our decreasing number of gravel roads. With the largest gravel road (3.5 miles) being paved, it may make sense to consider selling our grading equipment and outsourcing the maintenance of the remaining gravel roads.
These examples illustrate how outsourcing specific public works functions, such as road and park maintenance, can be an effective strategy for cities looking to manage budgets while maintaining service quality. Greenfield could consider a similar approach, potentially outsourcing selected tasks to achieve cost savings and efficiency improvements.