Preference for area businesses going forward

The ability to grant preference to local businesses for some government contracts here appears to be expanding.

Yuma County officials have reported that a bill to allow county government to give a 5 percent preference to area businesses for contracts over $50,000 is having smooth sailing in the Arizona Legislature.

“The bill made it through committee with flying colors, so it is moving right along,” said Yuma's Rep. Russ Jones, who co-sponsored the legislation with Yuma Rep. Lynne Pancrazi.

Of course, it still has a long way to go before final approval, but it has the support of the state's County Supervisors Association. Currently, Arizona law prohibits counties from granting local businesses a preference, but Yuma County officials asked the association to push for the change.

It makes sense to give local firms some preference in awarding of contracts. They pay taxes here, employ local people and have a commitment to the community. It is in the interest of local government to direct local tax money to them if possible.

If the county preference receives legislative approval, it will follow in the footsteps of the city of Yuma. City voters approved a local preference option last year.

The city measure is yet to be implemented, but the Yuma City Council will be taking up the organizational steps to do so this week after it was delayed late last year. Our hope is that it will start quickly.

The push for local preferences started as a result of the Great Recession in an effort to give a boost to businesses here. But it is something that is desirable in both good and bad economic times.