In some circumstances, I would agree, but we know what kind of love affair this mayor and department heads have with consultants and special interests. I hope the next mayor cleans house.
The Gargoyle Leader does a story on the City’s professional services expenditures. See my coverage of the story and the actual audit here.
Staggers said one item in particular concerned him.
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The city has paid nearly $400,000 in the last three years to Advanced Engineering and Environmental Services Inc., a North Dakota firm that has done water rate studies for the city. The city conducted a rate study several years ago concluding that Sioux Falls needed major rate increases over the next several years.
You have to pay someone $400,000 to tell you the percentage you should increase water rates? Give me $100, a calculator and 20 minutes and I could give you the answer. Talk about a prime example of the kind of waste that comes out of city hall.
Being the good soldier he is though, Mark Cotter defends the expense;
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Mark Cotter, the city’s director of public works, said the firm does more work for the city than just rate studies. Cotter also said the use of outside consultants is cost effective for taxpayers. The city can tap experts in niche fields for specialized work.
“After that,” Cotter said, “you don’t have to have them on your payroll.”
Considering analyists in Sioux Falls make about $50,000 a year they consider it a waste to taxpayers to have someone like that on the payroll for 8 years? Whatever.
I also found it ironic that the Gargoyle decided to wait a week to print the story under the fold on a Monday, with no links or graphs. I’m sure it had nothing to do with this figure;
Publishing Budgeted for 2009: $297,240
Obviously the Gargoyle doesn’t get all of that money, but they do get a nice chunk.
Hey, hey, hey – l3wis, be easy on them. They are under stress, man. Their world is getting away from them and they haven’t had time yet to print their own money. Hhm, what will they call it – Munsonbucks? Swanshares? (er, nope – she’s gone (for the moment), maybe Cottercurrency or Rowenhorstcheers?
http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/2009-04-05-scrip_N.htm?loc=interstitialskip
Vernon Brownnotes. The only problem is we will need to hire an outside firm to design them, another to determine the face values, another to handle the actual printing, and another to handle logistics and distribution.
We will offer a $5 note for the cost of $4.80, but with consultant and outside fees the city’s cost to produce one will be $5.75. The difference will be offset by selling bonds which we will cleverly call “Levee Bonds” in an effort to confuse the public as to their true purpose.
Approximately three weeks after the program is started, Mayor Munson will be found to have $430,000 in Vernon Brownnotes stashed in his trunk and when asked to explain he will tell everyone that they are perfectly legal due to a loophole in city campaign finance laws. Since he can’t run for Mayor again, no charges will be filed.
John- I should ban you for even suggesting the idea.
Costner- Sad but true.