Press Releases

2009-12-03 21:09:41
The issue of the Yuma city government giving preference to Yuma businesses and contractors has come up repeatedly over the years, but more urgency has been added to the plea in the past year or so due to the economic downturn.

That urgency is becoming critical now, representatives of the business and building communities told members of the Yuma City Council this week. Something must be done to steer more city money to local people, they said.

Fortunately, it appears there is a commitment from city officials to actually try to make it happen this time and to overcome the obstacles they say exist to giving local preference.

The timing is right. Council member Doug Nicholls, himself an engineer, described the economic situation here in the building trades as a "catastrophe."

He was supported by testimony about how local construction-related businesses have had to lay off a majority of their workers due to a lack of business, and prospects for future work are small.

The first step is already being taken. Nicholls has agreed to head a task force to give recommendations to the city council, perhaps as soon as the Dec. 16 meeting.

The obstacles to providing local preference are significant, according to City Attorney Steve Moore, due to restrictions in the city statutes and conflicts with state law. He noted the council could look at making changes in the City Charter to allow more local preference, but it would need to be done soon because it requires voter approval and the next available city election is in May.

Obviously, a speedier remedy is also desirable, so perhaps the informal task force can find additional alternatives. We hope so because city taxpayers would prefer to give help to their neighbors rather than businesses and workers from other cities.

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