I have been asked about the possibility of a county run or negotiated trash service.

The reason most people promote this idea is the mistaken idea that it would be free. The county will not absorb the cost of trash removal. It will be paid for by reduced spending on other services or increased taxes.

The second idea is that the county will be able to negotiate the lowest price by eliminating competition. I believe in the free market and supporting small business in the county.

The present competition in the county is already providing the lowest cost available. Lowering dumping fees by the county will lower your trash fee but again will raise taxes or cut other county services.

If you believe that a government run business keeps cost in check, I ask you to look at the US Post Office. The US Post Office received close to three billion dollars, from you the tax payer, this year to cover operating expenses. Fed Ex and UPS are direct competition with the US Post Office except they are prohibited from sending first class mail. They are keeping shipping cost down through competition with each other. The US Post Office just can not compete.

This same analogy can be applied to any government run business such as health care, Capitol Club House, and Regency Stadium.