The School Board wants to pass a billion dollar bond and raise taxes, the City Manager wants to raise taxes, county officials say the county may have to raise taxes. So it’s puzzling the County Commissioners just voted not to award the contract to run a new landfill in Holly Springs to the lowest bidder.

Santek Environmental, which made the low bid, was recommended “by a committee of technical advisors, approved by a committee of town managers and recommended by county staffers” (News and Observer, 6/9/06). The County Commissioners ran roughshod over their recommendations and awarded the contract to Waste Industries even though its bid was “$9.4 million more expensive.”

Five County Commissioners voted for the more expensive contract, two voted against it (Kenn Gardner and Tony Gurley). Speaking for the majority, Commissioner Betty Lou Ward said, “With a company that’s here in town [Waste Industries], any time you have a problem you can sit down and have lunch with the CEO and work something out.”

That could turn out to be a $9.4 million lunch.

How can commissioners expect voters to approve school bonds and tax increases on one hand when they see commissioners spending an extra $9 million with the other?

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