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Editorial: School district purchasing contracts ... it all adds up to keeping tabs on taxpayer money
Posted November 5, 2009 at 7:59 p.m. It’s all about the money.
Your money.

It’s not about who is right or wrong about money being wasted, whether a whistle-blower is in or out of political favor, who is made to look good or bad, or anything else.

All that matters, or all that ought to matter, is the answer to this question: Do public servants get the best possible deal for taxpayers when purchasing goods and services?

“Given all of the allegations swirling around, including claims of potential criminal wrongdoing, as well as the reports pertaining to Lee County, the superintendent, as a matter of due diligence, wanted the district to do a follow-up review,” Collier County Public Schools spokesman Joe Landon said in an e-mail this week.

“Taxpayers’ money” is inferred but not spelled out.

Landon was explaining Superintendent Dennis Thompson’s decision to examine school-system purchases from Office Depot, which a former salesperson says has been using a contract option to overcharge schools and other local government agencies for basic supplies.

The salesman has been trying to get the attention of the agencies and the public for more than a year.

When he raised the possible stakes to include approaching a grand jury, and the Daily News reported that to the public, Thompson as well as Lee County Schools Superintendent James Browder — whose seven-year purchasing director resigned to spend more time with family — paid more attention.

Good.

Still, when public funds are involved a more proactive stance is in order. Accountability alone ought to suffice to grab attention.

A former employee claiming firsthand knowledge of business dealings should not have to work so hard to get attention. A whistle-blower claiming to know about the potential for refunds should not have to turn to this newspaper as a last resort, although we are pleased to be of service.

It’s all about the money — the money that comes from our taxes and could be used for teachers.

It’s that fundamental and important.