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Tampa Mayor's Bid To Privatize Janitorial Jobs Fails

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By ELLEN GEDALIUS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 26, 2008

TAMPA - City council members rejected Mayor Pam Iorio's proposal to turn janitorial jobs over to the private sector, a move that preserves the jobs of 27 employees but forces the council to figure out other ways to save money.

The council voted 6-1 Thursday to deny the award of a contract to United Services Group, the Clearwater company the administration had selected to do the work. Councilman Charlie Miranda voted against the motion to deny.

Last year, as taxpayers demanded property tax reform, Iorio created an Efficiency and Effectiveness Task Force to come up with ways to save the city money. The task force recommended, and the mayor supported, a proposal to turn janitorial and security work over to the private sector.

This month, the city nixed the security idea after realizing the cost savings were minimal and because officials had other concerns. But Iorio's administration liked United Services Group's $940,000 bid.

Officials estimated the city would save about $430,000 a year by turning the work over to United Services Group. Twenty-seven people would have been laid off.

But Councilman John Dingfelder started criticizing the plan last year, arguing some of the city's lowest-paid workers would be affected.

Thursday, five other council members agreed with him. They were influenced, in part, by the pleadings of a few city janitors Thursday morning.

Service attendant Robert Tracy, 54, said he was worried about losing his job and health care.

"The way they're doing this is not the proper way," Tracy said. "I cannot walk out there and start all over."

Amalgamated Transit Union President Martha Stevens said, "Any time there is privatization, we are in opposition."

Council members said they were concerned that laid-off employees would be unable to afford health insurance. Even if some were hired by the private firm, the pay scale starts at about $9.50 an hour, barely enough for some employees to make ends meet, Dingfelder said.

Jeff Chapman, a United Services Group vice president, said his company could do the city's work for less money because his group can be more efficient.

That drew a sharp response from several council members, including Mary Mulhern.

"Why can't our staff be more efficient?" Mulhern said.

Councilman Tom Scott asked whether the administration has considered outsourcing senior management.

James Buckner, the city official who heads the efficiency task force, said the whole purpose of the group is to come up with ways to be more efficient. Privatizing janitorial work is just one example, he said.

Miranda said the city had to find ways to save money as taxpayers demand lower property taxes and, in effect, smaller government. Unfortunately, he said, losing some government jobs is part of that new reality, especially as government has to pay more for fuel and chemicals.

"I hate to say this, we're on a respirator. We're about to go into a coma."

Dingfelder said: "If we can't find $400,000 out of a half-billion-dollar budget, we don't deserve to be here."

The city's budget generally tops $700 million.

After the vote to reject the contract, Dingfelder suggested turning down the administration's suggestion to spend $250,000 on new illuminated street signs. The issue was postponed for three weeks.

Several council members said they were committed to finding $430,000 to cut in the budget.

Reporter Ellen Gedalius can be reached at (813) 259-7679 or egedalius@tampatrib.com.

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