The ONLY reason the government has their own Mechanic Shop or Sign Shop or Road Maintenance Shop is, presumably, so they don’t have to contract with for-profit mechanic shops or sign shops or road maintenance shops. So run them as a non-profit. Bring in money, do the work for paying customers and that way, if need be, they can trade work with other shops in the state.
We have a great resource in our shops, our workers, our craftsmen and laborers. Why not use them to help the taxpayer?