The article does touch on that subject.
the article plays it down somewhat; however, the the purchasing companies are treated as well-regulated utilities.
We did it here with our school-buses.
The city/school distict made a windfall by sellin the busses to a private company, and actually gets paid for busing kids to school.
Of course taxes stayed the same and the city blew the money on a branch library...A very nice library which is good...But taxes are still high.