As part of the budget hearings on July 25, 2012, the Commission approved $30,000.00 for an addition to the Torrance County Animal Shelter as part of the 2012-2013 annual budget.
Bids were sought for the animal shelter addition with only one bidder responding, Magnum Steel of Moriarty for $50,752.80 excluding gross receipts tax. The Commission awarded the contract in spite of the fact that the project was over budget by $20,752.80, excluding gross receipt tax or 69.176%.
How on earth could the budgeted amount be so far off? Torrance County has recently completed several metal building projects within the last 6 - 12 months one being the shuffle board court at the Mountainair Senior Center.
The Mountainair Senior Center's project bid came in over budget by $4,000.00 dollars or 18.181%. The Commission, primarily Commissioner Tapia, pushed for renegotiation with the single bidder on that prject, renegotiation ordered by the Commission for a much smaller amount. Why didn't Tapia or another member of the Commission follow the same pattern for the animal shelter project?
One has to wonder how many other items in the budget are skewed and how many shifts or lmitations in services will the tax payers see coming during the next fiscal year to compensate for under budgeted items.
Please don't get me wrong, I totally agree that the animal shelter needs the addition to be built, that is not my issue at all, instead, I find it confusing that this bid was so far beyond budgeted amounts voted in just a few short months ago and yet it was passed without further research, renegotiation or seeking additional bids.
Perhaps the gap in understanding could be closed if the County would utilize their web site to provide live information to the public, until then our Commission will remain untrusted which seriously affects future tax increase ballot initiatives.
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