By Cecilia Nasmith/Today’s Northumberland
Northumberland County’s Procurement Activity Report for the first quarter of the year brought good news to county council’s Finance and Audit Standing Committee at their May meeting.
The report, covering all purchases between $100,000 and $500,000, identified $266,414.25 in savings from three big items coming in under-budget.
Treasurer Glenn Dees explained that this report is required for information purposes on items in this price range, as anything above $500,000 automatically goes to council for approval.
The report listed the three items that produced the savings.
The project for minor culvert rehabilitation at various locations within the budget had been expected to cost $461,000, but the winning company (A2Z Civil 2608558 Ontario Limited) submitted a bid that left the county with a $215,621.02 surplus. The recommendation is that these funds be transferred to the Transportation Infrastructure Reserve.
The supply and delivery of two new heavy-duty 3/4-ton crew cab four-wheel-drive pick-up trucks was budgeted at $110,000. Winning bidder Fraser Durham Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Inc. submitted a bid that left a $16,470.45 surplus that is recommended to go into the Transportation Capital Reserve.
Also heading for the Transportation Capital Reserve is the $50,792.23 surplus resulting when the same bidder won the contract to supply and deliver three new heavy-duty half-ton extended-cab four-wheel-drive pick-up trucks that had been budgeted at $165,000.
The committee passed the recommendation to transfer the surplus funds into the designated reserves to help finance future needs.
