Audit of Jackson County finds over $2 million in contracts had no competitive bid

A state audit of Jackson County government released Wednesday found $2.7 million in contracts that were not competitively bid and another $1.3 million that went years without being reevaluated.

On Wednesday, a state audit of Jackson County government was released revealing $2.7 million in contracts that were not competitively bid and another $1.3 million in contracts that went years without being reevaluated, according to findings by Missouri State Auditor Nicole Galloway.

“The prevalence of no-bid contracts and the lack of review for professional services in Jackson County government is troubling,” Galloway said. “Time and again, officials violated the policies the county has to ensure transparency. Taxpayers deserve better.”

Jackson County’s charter requires all professional services contracts over $5,000 to be selected through a competitive process, except in emergency situations.

Findings from the audit show that this was not the case, however, the audit identifying multiple occasions when the county failed to solicit proposals.

Noted by Galloway were instances where the county did not require detailed invoices for services performed, and occasions where the county was billed before a contact was signed.

At other times, services were solicited but not reevaluated over several years, Galloway said.

Failed solicited proposals by the county include:

  • $60,000 for consulting services with the former county executive over a six-month period.
  • Nearly $1 million in legal services during 2017 and 2018.
  • An additional $1 million in legal services paid to a federal lobbying law firm between 2011 and 2017.
  • More than $100,000 in employment complaint investigative services in 2017 and 2018.