Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Purchasing Reforms Save Estimated $20 Million

From The House Communications Division ~ Oklahoma taxpayers continue to save millions of dollars due to recent purchasing reforms, according to the state’s purchasing director.

State Purchasing Director Scott Schlotthauer told lawmakers participating in a legislative study of the House Government Modernization Committee that state and local governments have saved an estimated $20 million in the past two fiscal years since reform legislation in 2008 and 2009 restructured Oklahoma central purchasing laws.

The savings have been realized because central purchasers have been able to manage and renegotiate state contracts in an effort to leverage the state’s buying power and ensure taxpayers are getting the best deal possible.

“We will continue to scrutinize every penny of taxpayer money that government spends as we work to root out waste,” said House Speaker Kris Steele, R-Shawnee. “Millions of taxpayer dollars have already been saved just by renegotiating purchasing contracts that weren’t giving taxpayers the best bang for their buck. Common sense says government should pay the lowest possible price for everything it buys, but common sense hasn’t always been government’s specialty. I’m pleased we’re starting to reverse that trend by putting the fiscally conservative practices that taxpayers use in their own lives in place in their government. I commend Representative Murphey for his continued leadership on this issue.”

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