Arizona Daily Star
A Phoenix-based think tank is accusing the city of Tucson of violating state law with an ordinance aimed at helping local businesses.
The Goldwater Institute is threatening legal action if the city doesn’t repeal the ordinance, which allows contracts to be awarded to local companies even if those businesses aren’t the lowest bidders.
The group claims such action is illegal and burdensome to taxpayers who will bear the increased cost.
The ordinance was passed last year and permit the city to grant contracts to area businesses that offer up to 5 percent higher than the lowest bid. The city says it is legally skirting the law by granting extra percentage points to local companies in the bidding process.
