CELSOC Applauds Recent Findings by the Legislative Analyst's Office.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- The Consulting Engineers and Land Surveyors of California (CELSOC) applauds key findings in the comprehensive report released today by the Legislative Analyst's Office (LAO) titled "Implementing the 2006 Bond Package."

The LAO found: "Particularly in the short term, the state may be unable to recruit, hire and train a sufficient number of staff in some programs to accommodate a rapid rise in spending." (Page 12)

Said CELSOC Executive Director Paul Meyer, "Engineering, surveying and environmental consulting firms are ready, willing and able to help deliver the state's infrastructure bond projects as quickly and effectively as possible. Consulting firms have the expertise, experience and capacity to deliver high quality transportation, water, flood protection, education and housing projects."

The LAO also found that: "If the work is for architectural or engineering services, the Legislature could make expanded use of contracted services, as permitted by Article XXII of the State Constitution. For instance in the case of Caltrans, without additional contracting out, the department may have to hire as many as 4,800 new staff to deliver projects funded by Proposition 1B." (Page 12)

Continued Meyer: "Article XXII is an excellent tool for expediting infrastructure projects. The state really has no choice but to use it to help deliver the bond financed projects, particularly as there is no way the state could hire 4,800 additional engineers. That is far more than the number of engineering graduates in California each year, and due to the current widespread demand for engineers, Caltrans cannot even fill its existing vacancies."

Article XXII became part of the Constitution when the voters overwhelmingly approved Prop 35 in November 2000. Article XXII gives state and local agencies the flexibility to procure services from private engineering, surveying, environmental and architectural firms when needed to quickly deliver infrastructure projects.

CELSOC is a 52-year-old, statewide association representing 1,200 private consulting engineering and land surveying firms that average 20 employees each. CELSOC is dedicated to enhancing the consulting engineering and land surveying professions, protecting the general public and promoting the use of the private sector in the growth and development of our state. Our members provide services for all phases of planning, designing and constructing projects. For more information, visit www.celsoc.org.