Taming a Monster: Changing the San Diego Water Department's Bid to Goal Program
The Union-Tribune quoted City Councilman Carl DeMaio likening one of the City Water Department's programs to an uncontrollable monster. According to an article in Monday's Union-Tribune, the Water Department is making changes to its Bid to Goal program. You remember that program, right? It's "the City's only incentive-pay system" that "rewards city workers for finishing projects under-budget and lower than simulated private bids." [http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/mar/22/changes-coming-to-san-diego-employee-bonus-program/] UCAN has had a thing or two to say about it already, and it looks all the controversy and complaints brought the City's water pot to a rolling boil.
It appears that the City finally felt the heat and elected to make changes to the program. The program that Mr. Barrett believes is a "legitimate program." [http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/mar/22/changes-coming-to-san-diego-employee-bonus-program/]
The problem appears to have been the lack of accurate data, leading to overstated savings estimate of more than $10 million.
The changes: the lack of accurate data will hopefully be remedied by the City's creation of a central clearinghouse. This clearinghouse will provide transparency to the often complained about program, crating a central location for all the records related to the Bid to Goal program. Additionally, the results of the program and historical data will be put online.
Check back to UCAN's blog for updates on this "monster" of a program and other water-related issues. Problems with a utility or a big business? Visit our Fraud Squad page and fill out a consumer complaint form.
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