Why Not Eliminate Local Government Altogether?

After reading Atlantic City is considering privatizing it's fire department and profiting off it's water department it got me to thinking. Why not eliminate the middleman (local government)?

What I'm about to say is said in half jest. The other half... maybe not no much.

Here in Allentown, like most other cities, we have a very large expensive city hall building which was needed to house a large number of city office workers who once carried out city functions. Yeah let's have a look at that. The city (unlike in the beginning) now contracts out...* Tax Billings & Collections.
* Bundles out to private venders the auctioning of nonpayment seized properties.
* Trash & recycling collections (non city owned trash trucks).
* Assigned to "authorities & commissions" the responsibilities for parking, water, redevelopment (RACA), human relations, commercial & development (AEDC), the NIZ (ANIZDA), Allentown Housing (AHA).It kind of makes you wonder with so little now being done in that building why we may even need it. Hell even Allentown's city solicitor still works part time for the law firm she's with.

Here's A Radical Idea
Why not eliminate the middle man (city government) all together while we're at it. It doesn't seem they're doing that much now anyway. How about instead we empower Lehigh County commissioners to hire a professional management firm to replace mayor and council. Sounds crazy at first, but seriously think about it for a minute.

Management firms only employ professionally trained specialists who can make the best choices when it comes to outsourcing. What we have now are a bunch of windbags who happened to get elected who may have little if any talent or experience when it comes to awarding specialty contracts. Indeed on some occasions have paid for studies and other outside help to even make a decision in the first place. Many of this expertise is already under a creditable management firm's employ. There should be a cost saving right there.

In the case of Allentown some contracts have been awarded because venders paid off contributed to their campaigns or are buddies. Employing a management firm to run city government has a couple of advantages.

(1) For one taxpayers don't have to hope and wait for a FBI investigation if something rotten is going on. The way terms of a contract may be written out could provide county almost complete oversight. Yes a firm could still hire acquaintances but they'd have a hell of a lot harder time trying to explain questionable contracts then the city has up to this point. No firm would want to cut into their profits nor reputation by pulling shady deals that would cost them future business or incurred litigation costs for doing so. Especially if they want to renew their contract every year or two.


(2) Other then fire, police, streets, parks and inspections most of the city services have already been contracted out. Other then police every other city service could be contracted out more efficiently and separate from the nepotism and cronyism that has become common within our current city government. Face it there are plenty of qualified workers in the private sector who can do inspections, perform medical emergency services and all the other services the city is presently engaged in.

(3) Any service not performing up to snuff can be let go at contract renewal time. Unlike our present system where it takes countless court appeals to try and let just one government worker go.

(4) Other then police, deeds and a few essential services we'd no longer have to house and maintain a huge central city hall building.

What About Citizen Input At Council Meetings?
I could be snarky and ask how's that working out for ya? Yes council is required to listen but they don't have to respond or do a damn thing about anything said. So in essence nothing more then a 'dog & pony show'. That could change under the system I'm speaking of.

County would then assume responsibility of these citizens meetings (whether by commissioners themselves or some form of oversight committee appointed or publicly elected officials). But wait you say isn't that what we already have?

Sort of but here's the differences. (1) The management firm could be required 100% of the time to be in attendance and respond (something neither our Allentown mayor nor council is required to do). (2) As part of the management firm's contract they could be required to post pending contracts 30 days in advance for public discussion before being allowed to award them (currently not required).

IN CONCLUSION
All this boils down a few things:
* Do we trust locally elected officials (qualified or not) to carry out and award public services?
* Can the private sector do things cheaper and more efficiently?
* Should we reduce layers of government entrusting county officials to greater power?
* How well has city government responded to public's concerns?
* Under which system would there be greater accountability ?

Is there a better way or should we 'stay the course'?