It doesn't take a genius to figure this out. Like all good private/public partnerships they split the profits & socialize the losses. With a 50/50 split of profits SMG & the city split $600,000 of profits over the past 5 years by minimizing costs. With a new five year contract in hand the partnership lost $600,000 in the first year by maximizing costs; $0 loss to SMG & $600,000 loss to the city. Total returns over six years of a 50/50 partnership; profits of $300,000 to SMG and losses of $600,000 to the city. Going forward in the contract, use your imagination as to annual results. What's not to like!!! Did you really think the private company (SMG) would accept any losses in any one year if they could socialize them in a particular year!!!. Do you really believe they broke even the previous two years!!