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Lawmakers question large overruns on statewide pharmacy and phone contracts
Summary
At a Fiscal Review committee meeting, legislators pressed agencies for explanations after two statewide contracts showed large overruns — a roughly 40% spike for a prison pharmacy contract and substantial excess spending on a statewide cell-phone contract — and asked staff to provide detailed breakdowns.
Legislators on the Fiscal Review committee pressed state agencies for clearer explanations after staff reported what some members described as unusually large overruns on two statewide contracts.
Representative Bricken raised concerns during the consent-calendar discussion, saying committee records show the highway/equipment contract and a statewide cell-phone services contract have far exceeded their original amounts. "When we spend 50% more on a contract, I just think some more further explanation from these departments should come to us," Bricken said, noting a roughly 40% increase on one contract and $75 million spent on what had been a $50 million phone contract.
Committee leaders said they did not require immediate action but asked staff to bring the appropriate department representatives back for a more detailed briefing. "Be glad to entertain something if you want to," the chair responded, and asked members to contact the chair or vice chair ahead of future meetings if they wanted a deeper review.
The exchange closed with the committee approving the consent items by voice vote. Members asked that departments return with a breakdown of the cost drivers, usage rules and any policy that governs employee phone allocations or equipment purchases so the committee can better assess whether overruns reflect inflation, increased volume or other causes.
