* WARNING: THIS IS AN UNOFFICIAL, INTRODUCTORY COPY OF THE BILL.
THE OFFICIAL COPY CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IS THE FIRST READER COPY.
INTRODUCTORY*
CITY OF BALTIMORE
COUNCIL BILL R
Introduced by: Councilmember Cole
A RESOLUTION ENTITLED
A COUNCIL RESOLUTION concerning
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Informational Hearing - Procurement Approval Process Study
FOR the purpose of requesting representatives of the Johns Hopkins Institute for Policy Studies, the Baltimore Economy and Efficiency Foundation, and the Baltimore City Director of Finance to report to the City Council on the recent Procurement Approval Process Study of Baltimore City government.
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Recitals
WHEREAS, The National Institute of Governmental Purchasing, in its procurement management audit of the City of Baltimore in 2001, noted that the current thresholds in place created a "slow and burdensome process" that is "cumbersome and considered an obstacle by City agencies".
WHEREAS, The Johns Hopkins Institute for Policy Studies was engaged by the Baltimore Economy and Efficiency Foundation to comparatively analyze the procurement approval process in Baltimore City, other home-rule Maryland counties, and selected cities around the country.
WHEREAS, The Johns Hopkins study found that:
· Baltimore City's Charter includes far more prescriptive language than any other home-rule locality examined.
· When municipal charters are not regularly reviewed and updated, inflation causes specific codified dollar amounts to lose the relationship with economic conditions that the charter's framers intended.
· Sluggishness in the purchasing system imposes costs on all parties: agencies that need goods and services to fulfill their public purpose; citizens who depend on government services; and companies, particularly small ones, that seek to participate in delivering goods and services to or on behalf of government.
· Through the unique institution of the Board of Estimates, the work of the City is done in public.
· The smallest contracts are not only most costly to the government, but also least profitable to small companies, which experience comparable transaction costs. Subcontracts on these small contracts are even less appealing.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE, That the City Council requests representatives of the Johns Hopkins Institute for Policy Studies, the Baltimore Economy and Efficiency Foundation, and the Baltimore City Director of Finance to report to the City Council on the recent Procurement Approval Process Study of Baltimore City government.
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be sent to the Mayor, the Director of Finance, the Johns Hopkins Institute for Policy Studies, the Baltimore Economic and Efficiency Foundation, and the Mayor's Legislative Liaison to the City Council.
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