• St. George is hiring private firms to run nearly all its city services, starting July 1, 2025.

• This multi-million dollar contract includes planning, permitting, finance, IT, communications, and more.

• The process is open and competitive—but fast-moving.

• The chosen contractor will effectively act as the city’s engine room.

• Residents and council members should ask tough questions now to ensure transparency, accountability, and long-term success.

Imagine hiring a company to run your entire neighborhood—handling permits, managing city finances, fixing traffic problems, planning new developments, and even answering residents’ questions. Sounds like a big job, right? Well, that’s exactly what’s happening in the newly formed City of St. George, Louisiana.

The city is looking for one or more private firms to take over nearly all of its day-to-day operations. It recently issued something called a “Request for Qualifications & Proposals” (or RFQ&P), which is just government-speak for “We’re hiring a contractor. Who wants the job?”

If you live in or around St. George—or are just curious about how cities can be run like businesses—this post will walk you through what’s happening, why it matters, and what questions residents should be asking.

TL;DR (Too Long; Didn’t Read)

What Is an RFQ&P and Why Is It a Big Deal?

A “Request for Qualifications & Proposals” is like a job application, but for companies. St. George is asking qualified firms to submit their experience, plans, and prices for running key government services.

This isn’t just about taking out the trash or patching potholes. The contract includes:

• Planning and Zoning (deciding what can be built where)

• Permitting and Inspections (approving construction plans and making sure work meets safety rules)

• Finance and Budgeting (handling the city’s money and taxes)

• Technology and Cybersecurity (running websites, payment systems, and keeping data safe)

• Communications and Constituent Services (handling public questions and complaints)

In short, it’s almost everything a city government does—except police, fire, and garbage collection.

Why Is St. George Doing This?

St. George is a newly incorporated city still building out its local government. Think of it like a startup that needs to get a lot done quickly but doesn’t yet have all the staff or systems in place.

Rather than create dozens of new departments from scratch, the city is turning to private companies to hit the ground running. This model is called a public-private partnership, where the government contracts with private businesses to provide public services.

This can work well—if done transparently and with the right oversight. But without clear guardrails, it can also lead to problems like:

• Poor service delivery

• Lack of accountability

• Overspending or hidden costs

• Conflicts of interest

That’s why this RFQ&P is such a big deal. It’s not just a contract—it’s the foundation of how St. George will function as a city.

Who’s Bidding, and What’s the Timeline?

Any qualified company can submit a proposal by May 22, 2025. That includes the current contractor, IBTS, which has already been handling many of the city’s early administrative duties.

The process is competitive, which means

• Firms must show their qualifications, including past experience and staff expertise.

• They must propose prices for delivering the required services.

• They can’t talk directly to elected officials during the review process (to prevent favoritism).

• Proposals will be opened publicly, scored based on preset criteria, and reviewed by the City Council.

The chosen contractor(s) will begin work on July 1, 2025.

What’s Actually in the Contract? (In Plain English)

1. Running the City’s Business

Think of the contractor like a city manager. They’ll handle everything from answering phones and staffing city hall to processing permit applications, paying vendors, and managing public meetings.

2. Keeping Track of Money

The firm must set up accounting systems, track budgets, help plan spending, and make sure the city follows state finance laws.

3. Planning the City’s Growth

They’ll review construction plans, inspect buildings, enforce zoning laws, and make recommendations on land use—basically guiding what gets built, where, and how.

4. Using Tech to Serve Residents

From online payments to GIS maps (used for property and zoning), the contractor must provide all the technology needed to run a modern city—securely and efficiently.

5. Handling Emergencies and Infrastructure

They must be ready to respond to floods, manage drainage projects, enforce building codes, and maintain data systems during disasters.

6. Communicating with the Public

The contractor will run the city’s website, send out public notices, manage social media, and help residents file records requests.

Why Should You Care?

If you live in St. George—or know someone who does—this contract will shape everything from how quickly your building permit gets approved to how your street is developed.

And since it involves millions of taxpayer dollars, it’s fair to ask:

• Will residents be able to see performance metrics?

• Who owns the city’s data and software if the contractor leaves?

• How can people report problems or give feedback on services?

• Is the city building its own long-term capacity, or will it stay reliant on a private vendor forever?

These are basic questions that deserve clear answers before the deal is signed.

Running a city is no small task. By outsourcing so much to a private company, St. George is placing a big bet on efficiency, speed, and expertise. But with big bets come big responsibilities. Residents deserve a voice in how their government is built—and a guarantee that it works for them, not just for the contractor.