New audit critical of outsourcing by the state DOT

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A new audit says the state Transportation Department could have saved $1.2 million by using its own employees instead of consultants on 125 construction engineering projects.

But either way, the Legislative Audit Bureau said many road projects did not have proper documentation to make sure they met specifications.

And as a result, Senate Democrat Julie Lassa of Stevens Point said taxpayers must pay twice when the state goes back to fix shoddy work.

The audit looked at the engineering for 214 projects in a 16-month period ending last June.

It found that 63 percent of the work could have been done cheaper by state employees.

But the Legislature limits the number of workers the DOT can hire, so it outsources the rest of the work.

As for the quality, Carol Godiksen of the American Council of Engineering Companies says engineers are just doing what the state asks.

And the DOT’s Peg Schmitt says her agency has taken a number of steps to improve its quality control.

Also, tight budgets have caused the state to reduce its outsourcing.

Linda Barth of the Administration Department says the government has reduced its contracting work by $100 million in the last four years.

Tags: news, wisconsin, dot, audit, outsourcing