the infrastructures of cash-strapped municipalities. Long-term agreements
create win-win outcomes for private industry and the public sector, with
improved service, lower costs, and opportunities for capital investment to
meet the needs of the future.

The future growth of long-term agreements for delivery of public services
will depend on building a critical mass of successful partnerships between
the public and private sectors. These positive experiences will lead the drive
towards acceptance of the long-term, public-private partnership approach
as a bona fide, established, and beneficial service delivery option. Once this
is accomplished in one infrastructure segment, other segments can then use
it as a further catalyst to promote growth or as a springboard to initiate
growth. As the water industry is demonstrating, the delivery of public ser-
vices under long-term partnerships is an idea whose time has come. It is a
significant option that can deliver substantial benefits, and more and more
public sector decision makers throughout the country are evaluating its
potential use.

Peterson W. A. 1994. Privatization at a crossroads. Water Environment & Tech-
nology (November): 56-60.

Reason Public Policy Institute. 1998. Privatization '98: 12th annual report on pri-
vatization. Los Angeles: Reason Public Policy Institute.

Reason Public Policy Institute. 1999. Privatization '99: 13th annual report on pri-
vatization. Los Angeles: Reason Public Policy Institute.

Reinhardt William. 1999. Water/wastewater privatization hits a growth spurt. Pub-
lic Works Financing (March): 20-25.

Ward Janet. 1998. The pros and cons of long-term privatization. American City
and County (May): 54-62.

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