The Village of Lansing could not document that it sought competition for $468,700 in goods and services reviewed by state auditors, who said the village missed required bidding and quotation steps and may have paid more than necessary for fuel.
That amount represented 52% of the $899,500 in purchases examined by the state comptroller’s office. The village spent $7.8 million on goods and services during the audit period, from June 1, 2024, through July 31, 2025. Auditors did not project their sample findings across all village spending.
Where auditors found gaps
The largest category involved $309,500 paid to five professional service and insurance vendors without periodically seeking competing proposals or quotes. The payments covered engineering, legal and accounting services, along with insurance. Those contracts are exempt from competitive bidding requirements, but auditors said seeking proposals from time to time is a way to check price and value. The clerk-treasurer told auditors that most of the vendors had worked with the village for more than 20 years.
Auditors also found that the village had not kept the documentation needed to show it qualified to buy a $68,500 mobile generator through another government’s contract instead of bidding it directly. For a separate $37,500 road-striping contract, officials obtained two verbal quotes, according to the public works superintendent. Auditors said the contract exceeded the threshold requiring competitive bids.
Eight other purchases totaling $53,200 lacked the number of written quotes required by village policy. They included streetlight materials, fuel, and landscaping and maintenance services.
Fuel prices and village response
By comparing the village’s fuel purchases with prices available through a state contract, auditors estimated Lansing could have saved $4,900, or 28%, on fuel. Village officials cited the location of one supplier and the speed of another supplier’s pump as reasons for using them.
The audit recommends that the village document purchasing decisions, follow bidding and quote requirements, and periodically seek competition for professional services and insurance. It also calls for a cost-benefit review before using another government’s contract for a purchase.
In a written response, Mayor Ronny Hardaway said the village accepted all six recommendations. He said trustees approved procurement policy updates in May and September, then approved a staff guideline and corrective action plan Sept. 21. The plan was awaiting signatures before submission, according to the village’s response.
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