Sammamish government departments detail contract work
June 8, 2010
By Caleb Heeringa
Members of Sammamish City Council quizzed department heads on their use of private contractors at a Finance Committee meeting June 1.
Directors of Parks and Recreation, Public Works and Community Development outlined their expenditures on private labor thus far in 2010, with many reporting savings due to a competitive bidding climate in the private sector due to the economic recession.
Parks Director Jessi Richardson said contracts had been 20 to 30 percent under budget compared to years past. That, coupled with mild winters that led to little clean-up, means that the department spent about 25 percent less in 2009 than 2008 and is on track to spend similar amounts in 2010. Any unused money is put back into the city’s general fund.
Department heads reported that private contractors are better fitted for some jobs, since they are often better prepared for specialized tasks and can be hired and fired with much more ease than a full-time employee.
Mowing grass in city parks, for example, can be done relatively cheaply by a private company without the city having to purchase and maintain landscaping equipment.
“Lawnmowers need to be maintained and replaced – that’s a pretty significant cost,” Richardson said.
Councilman Tom Odell asked the staff to consider how they would respond to worst-case budget scenarios, such as a theoretical 10 percent cut in funds. Most responded that service levels would likely suffer, meaning the potential for stinky bathrooms and shaggy shrubs. Odell said it was a trick he learned from his bosses while working in the airline industry.
“In every budget there’s always something that could be dispensed with,” Odell said. “The amount of pain depends on the size of the cut.”
Reach reporter Caleb Heeringa at 392-6434, ext. 247 or cheeringa@isspress.com
Comments
Got something to say?
Before you comment, please note:
- These comments are moderated.
- Comments should be relevant to the topic at hand and contribute to its discussion.
- Personal attacks and/or excessive profanity will not be tolerated and such comments will not be approved.
- This is not your personal chat room or forum, so please stay on topic.
