The city of Lawrence’s new purchasing policies raise concerns about accountability and transparency.

City Commissioners last week approved changes to the city’s purchasing policies to make it possible for the city to spend up to $50,000 on goods and services without seeking bids. Department heads can approve spending up to $25,000 without getting city manager approval and only purchases of $100,000 or more will require city commission approval. Also, change orders to contracts with city vendors will need City Commission approval only if they exceed $50,000.

The changes are meant to speed up processes and improve efficiency. City commissioners will spend less time approving bids, and staff members who prepare the agendas for the commission will spend less time processing those agenda items.

“We do spend an awful lot of time and money doing a lot of paperwork based on an old policy,” said Bryan Kidney, the city’s finance director.

Previously, the City Commission approved spending above $15,000. Kidney said in the past 12 months there were approximately 180 purchase items on the City Commission agenda. Of those, about 140 were under the $100,000 threshold.

Commissioner Stuart Boley, a retired auditor with the Internal Revenue Service, said he is content with the new checks in place. “I think that’s a legitimate way of doing things,” Boley said. “I was an auditor, and we used to do statistical sampling. I think it’s a thoughtful approach, and I think the tradeoff is how are we best using staff time.”

While it is understandable that city staff wants to save time and be more efficient, aren’t city commissioners first and foremost supposed to be accountable for how local taxpayers’ money is spent? Is turning over 75 percent of purchasing decisions to city staff the best way to do that?

Seeking RFPs on the purchase of goods and services is time consuming, but it ensures competitive pricing. Numerous significant purchases can be made below $50,000 — vehicles, office furniture, appliances, etc. It doesn’t seem fair to vendors or taxpayers to not publicly seek and award bids on such purchases.

Commissioners are elected to ensure city services are provided at a reasonable cost to taxpayers and that taxpayers’ money is spent properly. Reducing the checks and balances on city spending decisions doesn’t seem to be a move in the right direction.