Online “Reverse eBay” System Will Help City Spend Less
Paula Hughes unveiled her plan to use internet-based reverse auctions to reduce procurement costs in the City of Fort Wayne.
A reverse auction switches the roles of buyers and sellers from a typical auction. In an ordinary auction, buyers compete to obtain a good or service, and prices increase over time. In a reverse auction, sellers compete to obtain business, and prices decrease over time. Reverse auctions became popular in the late 1990’s with the growth of the Internet.
“We need to come up with better ways to make government more efficient and cost-effective,” Hughes said. “Online reverse auctions will flip the purchasing roles for goods and services on its head. Taxpayers will benefit from increased competition for City business.”
Overall government spending has become the issue of starkest difference in the race for mayor.
While her opponents have been pushing for increased city spending and continuing the current levels of indebtedness, Paula Hughes has advocated reducing the city debt, changing the way the city crafts its budgets and reducing bills that are out of line with other communities and states.
“Elections are about differences and the differences in this election are clear,” Hughes stated. “Fort Wayne residents can have business-as-usual in city government, a brand-new way of spending money, or they can elect me and have someone fighting for their rights as taxpayers.”