Oct 3, 2023 2 min read

No-bid contract not a win for taxpayers

I was appalled to read in the Observer-Reporter that the Washington County Board of Commissioners approved a $1.6 million no-bid contract to the Washington County Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Promotion Agency. Commissioner Nick Sherman was the lone voice of reason and dissenting vote in the decision. He noted the need for “change and improvement in the county’s policies and procedures.”

The county chose to spend $1.6 million on a vendor without any competition for the contract. Is there no other vendor or opportunity to advance our economic development at a lower cost? Is there a vendor with better performance in growing jobs and developing other counties? We owe it to taxpayers to at least examine these questions.

The two other commissioners, Diana Irey Vaughan and Larry Maggi, cite a long-term relationship with the chamber. They should both recognize this from their long time in office; just because you have always done something the same way doesn’t make it right.

A no-bid contract is a bad policy and leads to government waste and overspending. This allows for no checks and balances for the taxpayers.

The contract also provides for an 11-year term, which is outrageous. The county practically took out a home mortgage with the chamber and tied the taxpayers to a bad long-term deal. I have not heard of many contracts extending beyond a few years.

Lastly, why was this contract rushed before a new board of commissioners took office in January? This contract has tied the hands of the new board and future ones for the next decade.

This no-bid contract is a no-win situation for the taxpayer.

Krystal Hoffman

Canonsburg