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Committee forwards six‑month MTA security contract extension with amended cost
Summary
The committee approved sending a six‑month extension of the MTA's King Security Services contract to the Board, with the not‑to‑exceed amount reduced from $14,000,000 to $13,600,000; budget analysts recommended limiting the rate increase to 5% instead of the contractor's 10% request.
The Government Audit and Oversight Committee voted to forward to the full Board a six‑month extension of the Municipal Transportation Agency's security services contract with King Security Services, approving an amended 'not to exceed' amount of $13,600,000 and leaving further rate negotiations for the Board.
Judson True of the Municipal Transportation Agency told the committee that the three‑year contract award remains pending and the six‑month extension would bridge operations while agencies pursue a request‑for‑proposal if needed. The MTA said it would submit a modified contract to lower the not‑to‑exceed total from $14,000,000 to $13,600,000.
Budget analyst Ken Bruce urged the committee to limit any short‑term rate increase to 5% rather than a 10% bump, noting prior increases (8–9% the prior August) and an observed 12‑month CPI of about 4.2%. "A 10% increase compounds recent raises to over 18–19% in six months," Bruce said, and called the proposed 10% adjustment disproportionate to inflation.
Members noted the city faces limited leverage because services might lapse when the contract expires; staff said the existing contract contains no automatic service continuation clause. The committee asked staff to provide comparative rates between the pending three‑year contract and the six‑month extension for Board consideration.
Chair Ellsburn moved to forward the amended extension to the Board as a committee report; the item was sent to tomorrow's Board meeting for final action.
Next steps: the full Board will consider the six‑month extension with the amended not‑to‑exceed amount and may decide additional changes to rates or procurement approach when it meets tomorrow.
