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Committee backs referral to raise city bid threshold from $7,500 to $25,000
Summary
The committee voted to refer an ordinance (item 37187) that would increase certain municipal bid thresholds from $7,500 to $25,000 to the common council, citing consistency across capital project rules and efforts to prevent invoice-splitting that skirted procurement rules.
The committee voted to refer item 37187 — an amendment to sections 2-566, 2-591 and 2-619 of the city code — to the common council with a favorable recommendation after members asked for background on the change.
Alderman Ben Santiago moved to accept and refer the item. Alderwoman Delinia pressed for context, asking what prompted the increase from $7,500 to $25,000. The interim finance director explained the proposal addresses three concerns: establish consistent thresholds across the city’s bidding processes, update an outdated $7,500 figure and reduce instances in which invoices were broken into smaller amounts to avoid formal bidding. "By increasing this to $25,000, we're going to ensure that that doesn't happen anymore," the interim finance director said.
Committee members also sought historical context and documentation about when the prior threshold was set. The interim finance director said she would look up the prior change, provide dates and follow up with committee members by email. Members noted that monthly expenditure reports to the council will remain part of oversight.
The committee recorded the motion as passing; the transcript shows the chair calling for ayes and the motion carrying, though no roll-call vote is printed in the record.
The matter will next appear before the common council, where members may debate the change in detail and vote on final adoption.
