Two Wisconsin State representatives have requested an audit of how the state awards contracts to private firms following recent controversies.
In a letter to the Joint Legislative Audit Committee, Rep. Spencer Black, D-Madison, and Rep. Terese Berceau, D-Madison, called for an audit to determine whether some of the state's private contracts could have been performed by state government agencies more efficiently and to verify agencies are following state laws when awarding contracts.
\I'm concerned that the state is spending too much money and getting too little accountability by firing state employees and turning to private contracts,"" Black said. ""I've heard from many state employees that private contractors are increasing the costs to taxpayers and providing worse service.""
Concerns were raised most recently after contracts were awarded to private firms at a higher cost to taxpayers, most notably the Marquette Interchange website. With the private contract, the $600,000 project was 18 percent higher than if state employees had been used, Black said.
State contracting practices have also received negative attention following certain engineering projects on state highways and the creation of a database for voter registration.
According to Tom Powell, research assistant for Berceau, this and other past controversies merit an audit of state agencies.
""To have the state do an audit of those recent private contracts that are out there, we hope to see if there's something else out there that provides us with evidence that it's more of a systemic problem than an isolated case,"" he said.
In addition, Gov. Jim Doyle has proposed the elimination of 10,000 state employees to meet budget constraints, forcing the state to become more dependent on private contractors.
""State employees' work is efficient and economical, and state employees are accountable to the public,"" Berceau said in a press release. ""There should be strong justification before state employees are laid off and their jobs outsourced.""
Current Wisconsin law requires contracts be awarded to private contractors if it has been shown it is more economical and efficient than if state employees completed the task.
""If we can do it cheaper in-house and if we keep state employees that have worked loyally for years, let's do that,"" Powell said.
Agencies must also open the task to bidding before a contract is awarded to a private firm to ensure the lowest costs.
""My sense is that agencies are not really following [requirements] or not following them scrupulously,"" Black said.
After the submission of the audit request, the audit committee will decide whether to proceed with the audit. According to a response letter to Black, the committee will take up the request within the next month.
