Forsyth County commissioners have voted to sunset a local business initiative program instituted in 2009 meant to give preference to Forsyth businesses in awarding government contracts.

The program was set up during 2009’s recession to award contracts of less than $1 million to local firms if they were within 5 percent of the lowest bids. The initiative does not include public works and road/bridge contracts, however.

County Manager Eric Johnson dubbed the program as not a best practice, and said that it could lead to retaliation by other governments that could institute their own preferential programs.

After hearing that the program affected fewer than 20 of the 2,600 transactions for which it would have been eligible last year, commissioners voted 5-0 to end the program July 1 to allow time to get the word to local businesses.

About the Author

Featured

Waymo autonomous vehicles operate across 65 square miles inside I-285 and have been involved in six incidents with Atlanta Public School buses since May. Waymo issued a recall because of their cars briefly stopping or slowing down before continuing forward while a bus was stopped and flashing its lights. (Courtesy of Atlanta Public Schools)

Credit: Courtesy of Atlanta Public Schools