Savings missed in state analysis / Less-costly staff not always used; even so, contract costs drop
Source: By PATRICK MARLEY, Journal Sentinel (WI), Nov. 22, 2007
Madison - The state outsourced work at least 74 times in the most recent fiscal year even after determining it would cost less to use state employees.
Despite those decisions, contracting costs dropped 14% for the fiscal year that ended June 30, continuing a downward trend since Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle took office, a new report shows. (.pdf)
The report suggests that the state could have saved more. Precise figures were not available, but a Journal Sentinel analysis of state records shows that as much as $12.5 million went to contractors that would have been saved if state workers had been used instead.
....... Early last year, Doyle signed the law requiring cost-benefit analyses for any service that would cost more than $25,000. Tuesday's report was the first look at how the law has been working.