Comparison of the 2007 Chks data with 2009 Chks data (percent of Scotts Valley High students compared to national

Purchase orders account for the vast majority of county spending but are the most expensive method of acquisition. In 2008 nearly $28 million in purchases were processed via purchase orders at a cost of over $500,000. Response: County of Santa Cruz Board of Supervisors – PARTIALLY AGREES Purchasing Division salary and expenditures include more than purchase order tasks. The Purchasing Division work involving contracts account for the vast majority of county spending through the process of bidding, legal review and processing of payments. Purchase orders account for a significant spend, but not the major dollars that contracts represent. Other tasks performed by the Purchasing Division include Living Wage tracking/reporting, Master Contract Agreements and bidding of other department contracts and surplus property disposal.

Purchasing indicates that a standard industry goal is to maintain processing costs in the $60-$100 range above the cost of goods per purchase order. However, it appears, based on review of the County of Santa Cruz Cost Allocation Plan, that our County’s cost greatly exceeds that range. In 2003-2004, 2,620 purchase orders were processed at a cost of $184 per order. In 2004-2005, 2,570 purchase orders were processed at a cost of $196 per order. Response: County of Santa Cruz Auditor-Controller – PARTIALLY DISAGREES The Purchasing Division has the expertise to determine the standard industry range for purchase orders and on this statement. We do not agree or disagree. We disagree with the costs provided to process a purchase order and disagree that the Santa Cruz County Cost Allocation Plan (the Plan) is able to provide information to calculate that cost. The Grand Jury based its calculations on information annually 28 For Everything Else There’s CAL-Card