A similar effort downstate has saved "considerable" money for taxpayers.
/ Jim Kenyon
SYRACUSE -- Onondaga County legislators were told Friday morning you've got to spend money to make money.
The legislators are reviewing Onondaga County Executive Joanie Mahoney's proposed budget, in particular an innovative change to the Purchasing Department.
Mahoney and Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner are drafting an agreement to combine Purchasing Departments. By doing so, they expect to save tax payers money on large purchases because it would increase the county's buying power.
Mahoney is also inviting all towns and villages to join with the county's Purchasing Department.
The county is proposing to increase the size of the Purchasing Department by adding four people at a cost of about $250,000 dollars.
Assistant Purchasing Director Sean Carroll told county legislators that he could not say how much the county would save by combing Purchasing Departments with the city, but said a similar effort downstate has saved "considerable" money for taxpayers.
