Here are two examples of government privatization moving forward in the St. Louis area: First, Festus is selling its municipal airport. Now, this won’t have anywhere near the effect of the private, commercial airport in Branson, but it is nonetheless a good example of a local government shredding itself of a role that the private sector can perform just as well (and probably better).

Second, the city of St. Louis is bidding out the operation of its animal shelter. The well-known nonprofit organization Stray Rescue will apparently get the contract. Kansas City privatized the operation of its animal shelter last year, and the accounts I have read about it indicate that the shelter is operating smoothly under private management.

As governments at every level deal with serious budget issues, it’s important that the private sector be allowed to play a role previously played by the public sector, as a major part of the changes that state and local government need to make.