"Government has an obligation to get the most out of each tax dollar, and the only way to ensure efficiency is to put projects up to competitive bids in the private sectors.

If the Palkovitz family can offer the best package for the best price, they deserve to continue operating at Tumwater Valley.

But the city, on behalf of taxpayers, has an obligation to test the market."

This quote comes from an editorial in today's Olympian.  The Palkovitz family operates the restaurant at Tumwater Valley Golf Course.  I take a different position that both the City of Tumwater and The Olympian.

Why can't the operators just lease the space and run an independent business?  What is there that needs to be "bid"?  It would seem to me that the most profitable way for the City of Tumwater to protect the taxpayers interest is to lease the space and not get involved in the operations of a private business.  If the City of Tumwater knew anything about running restaurants, this conversation would be over.

http://thurstonblog.blogspot.com/

The problem with business today is that everything is based on the "best price".  So we have a market where the best price includes lead paint in childrens toys.  Whatever happened to loyalty and relationships in business?  If the operators of the restaurant put together the best proposal on paper and the business fails, how did this protect the taxpayers?

I think the editorial in The Olympian is oversimplified, but it's a safe bet for the only newspaper in the area when it comes time to submit their bids to municipalities for public notices.  Where is the competition then?  Who is protecting the taxpayers then?