Committee urges ODOT to study hiring and reduce costly consultant reliance
Summary
Members urged the agency to examine hiring and retention—saying ODOT struggles to recruit engineers at market rates—and suggested that strengthening in-house capacity could reduce long-term consultant costs.
Several committee members urged CIAC to take up ODOT hiring and retention practices as a future topic. Members said the agency struggles to hire engineers and professionals at competitive market rates, which leads to heavy consultant reliance and higher long-term costs to taxpayers; one committee member noted the state often pays a premium for consultants when in-house talent is insufficient.
A committee member said, "ODOT has a real problem in hiring engineers and and professionals coming in because they just can't pay the rate that's out there on the private side," and recommended the CIAC examine hiring practices as part of its oversight work. Staff acknowledged the concern and added that staffing and consultant engagement could be a topic for future CIAC review and reporting.
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