Less Competitive Bidding, Pleads Hattiesburg Mayor
Hattiesburg mayor asks lawmakers to raise no-bid purchase cap
Toby Barker told a Mississippi Legislature committee studying public procurement that the state's $5,000 no-bid purchasing threshold should be raised.
Testifying October 29 on behalf of the Mississippi Municipal League, Barker said the limit, unchanged since 2007, should be increased to help cities handle routine work more efficiently. "We would request that the Senate and House consider raising that threshold to at least $15,000 or to some level that the legislature deems appropriate," Barker told the committee. He said the current cap forces municipalities into costly two-quote and sealed-bid processes even for small, routine purchases such as curb and drainage repairs.
Barker also compared Mississippi's threshold to those in neighboring states, including Louisiana, Alabama and Tennessee, arguing those states allow municipalities more flexibility before competitive bidding is required.
The testimony comes as lawmakers weigh procurement rules ahead of the 2027 legislative session. Supporters of raising the cap argue the unchanged threshold has become a regulatory burden that slows basic municipal maintenance, while any formal proposal would need to be filed and taken up when the Legislature reconvenes.