Legislators: Close Loophole!

The lack of competitive bidding policies pertaining to educational service contracts costs every taxpayer and student millions in needless waste. Obviously, this is unfortunate, but not a violation of law or policy. It should be. School districts and state entities appear to have no idea how much money could be potentially saved.

Legislators should require service contracts paid for by government entities to meet the same standards as public improvement contracts (construction) (Iowa Code Section 26.3(1)), which requires any public improvement contract with an estimated cost of $125,000 or greater to be advertised for sealed bids by publishing a notice to bidders. The notice to bidders shall be published at least once, not less than four (4) and not more than 45 days before the date for filing bids, in a newspaper published at least once weekly and having a general circulation in the geographic area served by the government entity.

Government entities can adjust the monetary threshold lower if they wish but at a bare minimum this will help to protect taxpayers from governmental bodies who do not take their fiduciary responsibilities seriously.

We are looking to stretch every dollar possible. We need a mechanism to force those who will not seek competitive bidding to do so. Taxpayers and our students deserve it.

In the Iowa City Community School District, administrators and board members are complaining that state funding is insufficient. At the same time, they have ignored competitive bidding on service contracts that cost millions of dollars over many years. For years, district administrators have paid for contractors’ mistakes out of district funds instead of forcing contractors to pay for their own mistakes. This is money they have 100% control over.

Being accountable would require district administrators and board members to get their own fiscal house in order before they bellyache for more money.

• Phil Hemingway