WisDOT outsourcing costs taxpayers millions

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The Wisconsin Department of Transportation is paying contractors millions of dollars for work that could be done cheaper by state employees.

Through the end of last month, taxpayers were shelling out an extra $13.8 million to have private consultants do work that state workers could do.

WisDOT officials blame an internal staffing shortage. Department Secretary Mark Gottlieb said that leaves no option but to hire contractors.

The figures were released Tuesday in a WISC-TV report. The station reviewed paperwork from some 300 projects and found that 80 percent made reference to a lack of sufficient WisDOT staff.

Gottlieb said WisDOT is filling 50 engineer positions but still has a vacancy rate of 15 percent. Gov. Scott Walker has proposed holding transportation funding steady in this coming two-year budget.

Information from: WISC-TV, http://www.channel3000.com