In regards to the discussion about the city of San Jose considering yet another tax increase to pay for park maintenance, I have a better idea. Rather than raising taxes again, government should implement solutions that maximize each tax dollar to deliver the most bang for the buck.
In 2013, during my tenure on the council, the city of San Jose permitted parks that are less than two acres to be maintained by a private landscaping company. The amount required to maintain these small parks by city employees was $4.2 million, while the private landscaping company cost was only $1.3 million, which is a 3-to-1 cost savings. This shows that by using competitive bidding, government can increase fiscal efficiency, and do more with fewer tax dollars. The substantial savings can be allocated to the parks department or into other city services, such as paving roads or pedestrian safety projects.
Pierluigi Oliverio
Former member
San Jose City Counci