Frederick County shelves privatization study

FREDERICK — The Frederick County Commissioners are shelving a study that recommended outsourcing government services to private businesses.

The vote Tuesday followed two contentious public hearings and protests by hundreds of county employees and their allies.

The Frederick News-Post reports that the board will consider other public-private partnership models and invite county workers to make suggestions for cutting costs.

The study by consultant Oliver Porter of Sandy Springs, Ga., concluded the county could save $84 million to $109 million over five years by contracting for services such as public works, community development, and parks and recreation.

Commissioner Billy Shreve says, “The report has caused more chaos than good.”