Advertisement

Hamilton’s use of consultants going under the microscope

An audit showed the City paid $40 million on consultants in 2016.
An audit showed the City paid $40 million on consultants in 2016. AM900CHML

After an audit revealed cost overruns and other issues, Hamilton councillors have received a staff report that aims to improve the use of consultants.

The list of proposed improvements includes electronically tracking a consultant’s performance, clearer rules surrounding budgets, and potentially using more city employees to avoid the unnecessary contracting out of jobs.

The audit showed the city paid $40 million on consultants in 2016 and $97 million since 2014. Of the 32 contracts that were reviewed between 2014 and 2016, nine of them were paid for but never used.

Ward 7 Coun. Donna Skelly says she “wants to have a very thorough discussion about this” issue.

Skelly adds some consultant reports cost a lot of money and thinks “we don’t get value” for the amount the city is spending.

Story continues below advertisement

LISTEN: Donna Skelly joins the Bill Kelly Show

Sponsored content

AdChoices