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Modernizing County Purchasing Can Save Taxpayers Money
February 26, 2008
Enhanced flexibility allows counties to piggyback other government contracts
Proposed changes to local government purchasing practices would help bring government procurement into the 21st Century, according to county testimony presented today to a State Assembly hearing aimed at examining state and local procurement practices.
A proposal in the 2008-09 Executive State Budget would allow counties to purchase government supplies off of contracts led by other state and local governments. The proposal also allows contracts to be awarded on “best value” instead of lowest cost and allowing purchasing of information technology products and services through cooperative purchasing.
New York is currently the only state that does not allow municipalities to piggyback on other governmental contracts for the procurement of goods and services.
“We see an important opportunity to improve local government efficiency and as well as address the issue of rising property taxes,” said NYSAC Executive Director, Stephen Acquario. “There is the potential to save tax dollars this year by providing counties with this procurement tool.”
Examples of piggybacking opportunities include U.S. Communities, a Government Purchasing Alliance that is utilized by over 30,000 public agencies across the country. In 2006, U.S. Communities documented savings of over $150 million in the procurement of $1 billion in products and services.
The Western States Contracting Alliance (WSCA) provides contracts to state and local agencies that are bid by state agencies and provided through a cooperative purchasing contract to any public agency. Although New York State agencies may access these contracts, New York local governments cannot.
“This procurement reform, in addition to many others, is common sense,” said NYSAC President Lucille M. McKnight, an Albany County legislator. “It also presents counties more procurement tools to maximize our scarce resources.”
The New York State Association of Counties is a bipartisan municipal association serving all 62 counties of New York State including the City of New York. Organized in 1925, NYSAC’s mission is to represent, educate and advocate for member counties and the thousands of elected and appointed county officials who serve the public.
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